The federal, provincial and territorial ministers responsible for digital trust and cyber security met at the Federal, Provincial and Territorial Ministerial Symposium in St. John’s on September 16 and 17 to discuss three key areas: cyber security, digital trust and artificial intelligence (AI). The ministers are committed to delivering secure, cutting-edge public services.
Cyber security
The ministers discussed cooperation among their respective governments at the FPT Ministers’ Table on Digital Trust and Cyber Security, stressing the importance of having measures in place to facilitate the sharing of cyber security information to better protect Canadians.
The ministers also emphasized the importance for the governments to share information and best practices to ensure Canada’s IT and operational technology (OT) systems have effective cyber defences in today’s complex digital world. Intergovernmental partnership is needed to share information in real time in order to prevent cyber threats and facilitate mutual assistance in the event of a cyber attack.
The ministers discussed cooperative measures including the sharing of information and cooperation with law enforcement to hold cyber criminals and threat actors accountable, while effectively identifying and responding to cyber attacks, both inside and outside Canada.
Digital trust
The ministers discussed the use of technology to modernize systems and to deliver better, faster and smarter services to the public. The ministers agree that maximizing choice for Canadians is a priority for those Canadians who choose to use more online services. The development of strong digital trust frameworks will be vital to ensure secure online service delivery. The ministers also agreed to focus on interoperability among jurisdictions for the benefit of Canadians.
Artificial intelligence
The ministers discussed their practices and experiences in terms of AI governance so that its use in government service delivery is transparent, responsible and accountable for Canadians.
The ministers agreed that the use of AI should be assessed and managed on a case-by-case basis. This ensures safe and responsible development, procurement and deployment in high-risk settings, with minimal administrative burden in lower-risk settings.
Further, the ministers discussed various AI principles and found some common ground in terms of what AI should do:
- improve human, social and environmental well-being and not discriminate against individuals, communities or groups
- be inclusive and accessible and respect the human rights, diversity and autonomy of individuals
- uphold privacy rights and data protection in accordance with relevant legislation
- be transparent and exercise responsible disclosure so Canadians can clearly understand when they are being significantly affected by AI, can find out when an AI system is engaging with them, and can challenge, in a timely manner, when they are affected by the outcome of an AI system
- have human oversight so that those responsible for AI systems are identifiable and accountable for the outcomes
The ministers agreed to engage in open discussions on federal, provincial and territorial legislation that could affect the use and development of AI within the various jurisdictions in Canada.
The ministers also agreed to share where AI is used in their own governments to identify best practices.
Quotes
“As our digital world continues to evolve, so does our commitment to providing digital services to Canadians. Canadians face ongoing threats as they embrace the opportunities offered by the digital economy and connected society. Canadians expect our public services to keep pace with the digital world, and that governments will do everything in their power to protect them. By coming together, the Ministers are demonstrating their commitment to this goal.”
Honourable Elvis Loveless
Minister of Digital Government and Service and Minister Responsible for the Office of the Chief Information Officer
Co-Chair of the Symposium
“High quality and timely service delivery require us to evolve with the digital landscape while upholding our responsibilities to privacy and security. By working with provinces and territories, we are reiterating our commitment to deliver cutting-edge and secure digital public services across the country. I look forward to further collaboration to harmonize our work as it is essential for ensuring consistent and efficient service delivery, as well as an alignment to cyber security measures and the responsible uses of AI in our governments.”
Honourable Anita Anand
President of the Treasury Board
“Thank you to Newfoundland and Labrador for hosting this important symposium and giving us the opportunity to connect and share ideas with digital government officials from across the country. Since our government established the portfolio of Citizens’ Services last year, we have prioritized modernizing service delivery to meet Canadians’ needs. Managing multiple logins for federal and provincial services is inefficient, confusing, and time-consuming for Canadians. Right now, more than 60 different logins are needed across federal departments to access services. That’s why we’re leveraging digital credentials to create a single login for all government services, as funded in Budget 2024. We’re collaborating across all federal departments and working together with provinces and territories to ensure Canadians receive the seamless, accessible, and efficient service they deserve.”
Honourable Terry Beech
Minister of Citizens’ Services
“Cooperation, learning from one another, and sharing best practices are key to ensuring that we responsibly adopt – and maximize the benefits of – cutting-edge innovations to best serve Canadians. As we navigate our ever-evolving digital world together, Ontario is steadfast in its commitment to working alongside all jurisdictions to build a stronger, safer, and more resilient digital future for all.”
Honourable Todd McCarthy
Ontario’s Minister of Public and Business Service Delivery and Procurement
“Cooperation is key to ensuring robust cyber security and a successful digital transformation. This is why in 2022 the Government of Quebec held the very first Federal, Provincial and Territorial Ministerial Symposium on Digital Trust and Cyber Security and in 2023 signed a collaboration agreement with British Columbia to make digital identity services interoperable between both governments. By pooling our expertise, we are building a more resilient digital ecosystem where privacy protection and digital trust are top priorities.”
Éric Caire
Minister of Cybersecurity and Digital Technology of the Government of Quebec
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2024 09 17
4:25 pm