Information and Communications Technology Council (ICTC) believes Canada is well on its way toward building a more productive Digital Economy and regaining its standing worldwide in terms of innovation given the recent joint efforts of Human Resources and Skills Development Canada (HRSDC), Heritage Canada and Industry Canada on a Digital Economy Strategy Consultation with Canadians.
 
“We now have a tremendous opportunity to ensure that Canada becomes the most digitally-skillful country in the world,” said Paul D. Swinwood, President of ICTC. “Through our ongoing work in partnership with industry, academia, governments, internationally educated professionals, immigrant serving agencies and Canadian ICT professionals, ICTC remains committed toward narrowing the digital skills divide.”
 
After incorporating feedback from industry leaders and stakeholders, ICTC has developed a number of recommendations under the theme of “Building Digital Skills”. This is a critically important area given that the backbone of the digital economy will be a strong, globally competitive ICT sector, and Canadian businesses will need both business and ICT skills to be innovative and compete to win. Hence, attracting, developing, educating, training, integrating and retaining professionals with both skills sets will be integral to Canada’s success in the digital economy.

In this submission, ICTC identifies the four critical challenges in skills development and identifies 11 key ways to address these challenges. Furthermore it explains what can be done to ensure labour market entrants have the necessary digital skills as well as how the current workforce needs continuous up-skilling to remain competitive. Finally, ICTC comments on how the digital economy will impact the learning system in Canada and describes how a multi-pronged strategy is needed to address the digital divide.

Canada’s future economic growth and productivity will depend heavily on investments made in digital technologies and having the person with the right skills in the right job at the right time. ICTC recommends that Canada invest in targeted national programs including digital literacy for all Canadians, internship and mentorship, integration of internationally educated professionals through bridge training, as well as formal continuing professional development.

For more details, access Digital Skills for Prosperity and Productivity in Canada, ICTC’s Digital Economy Strategy submission online by clicking here.
 
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