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Weekly Situation Report – April 23, 2020

 

 

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April 23,2020

Week # 5 – Our advice to government: #BeBOLD. In the words of Premiere Ford today –  TECHNATION continues with an ‘all hands-on deck’ approach. We launched our biggest push yet to transform and modernize procurement  – outlined in the Op Ed which you can read here.

On-going meetings with federal government ministries (ISED – PSPC – Digital Government) is resulting in work to create a submission of an ‘Innovation Adoption Program’  proposal for government to seize an agile procurement approach for tech economic recovery. If we get past this first hurdle, this will be a tremendous opportunity to engage our membership on a bold new approach.

We held our 2nd National Tech Association forum to enable a national collective front on critical issues in the tech sector. The state of the Canadian Tech SME continues to be a significant concern across Canada. TECHNATION is aggressively trying to support that.

The City of Toronto ‘Re-Imagine’ thought leadership series has been expanded! Stay tuned for three new events to be scheduled in May and June – your participation, thought leadership and dynamic speaking capability is wanted.

Click here for a powerful IDC Dashboard of technology market impacts!

Finally, another great week with new members joining TECHNATION! A warm welcome to:  Bambora; Bill Munson Consulting; Ingenico; and Payments Channel Solutions Inc.

Our TECH2GOV Innovation Exchange – it’s live – we are at 70 members; lets get to 200!

Angela Mondou

President and CEO, TECHNATION

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The recently announced Innovation Assistance Program (IAP) under the Industrial Research Assistance Program (IRAP), was designed to assist Canadian small-and medium-sized enterprises. SMEs pursuing tech-driven innovation who have been unable to secure funding under the Canada Emergency Wage Subsidy (CEWS) are eligible and can apply for financial assistance under IRAP IAP. For more information and to apply, click here.

What does Recovery and Re-Imagine mean to the City of Toronto in terms of digital modernization and procurement transformation? In a special Re-Imagine the City of Toronto briefing event, forward-thinking City of Toronto leaders will share their COVID-19 recovery plans as well as identify their most pressing needs and challenges to the tech community. This curated event will bring government and industry together to learn how the IT vendor community can better support government business and cultivate more effective citizen-centred service delivery during this critical time. Topics will include:

  • Sharing of specific COVID accelerated tech implementation plans
  • IT/Digital Roadmap planned for next 3 – 6 – 12 months
  • How ‘agile procurement’ is defined post-COVID?
  • How should industry plan differently and how can government and industry collaborate and co-create?

The first event will be held May 12 from 11-2 p.m. Registration details will be available soon.

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WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT

The TECHNATION Career Ready Program is seeking a consultancy for the development and implementation of a national outreach/awareness campaign to draw employers to use the wage subsidy it provides, and of the benefits in providing coop/internship opportunities to Canadian students. Click here to learn more.

SIGN UP TODAY! TECHNATION SPEAKERS BUREAU

To continue to give our members, government leaders and stakeholders’ access to the brightest minds, we are inviting you to submit your nominations for expert speakers to be added to our database. We intend to showcase these national and global speakers for future events and engagements. Click here to learn how you can update and provide information to showcase your pertinent speaking experience.

TECHNATION FUTURE SKILLS/ ADaPT PROJECT

Are you looking for entry level talent for free? Our ADaPT participants have recently completed 70+ hours of digital and professional skills, allowing them to stay current with emerging trends/technology and the future of work. Contact Sangeeta.mehta@ryerson.ca for more information. ADaPT is a work-integrated learning program that addresses the gap between employer needs and graduate skills through intensive training. 

UPCOMING TECHNATION EVENTS AND MEETINGS

  • April 30, 2020: Federal Public Sector Business Committee (PSBC) meeting. 8:00 – 9:30 a.m. EDT. Register for the call here.
    • Discuss steps the federal government has taken during the COVID-19 crisis, their plans as we plan for economic recovery, and the status of ongoing IT infrastructure and procurement.

Registration details coming soon!

  • May 12, 2020: A Re-imagine the City of Toronto series that looks at what Recovery and Re-Imagine mean to the City of Toronto in terms of digital modernization and procurement transformation.
  • June 2020: CCIO Briefing and Panel Discussion with Dafna Carr and Ontario CIOs.

INDUSTRY SUPPORTED EVENTS

  • May 6, 2020: IDC Directions Webinar – COVID-19 Impact: What’s Next for the Canadian Tech Market? 1:00 p.m. EDT. Learn more and register

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The management of privacy and security have become priorities for Canadian government and business leaders responsible for the protection of sensitive health data and critical health infrastructure. Realizing the potential benefits of emerging technologies requires the establishment of a private and secure digital health infrastructure based on international standards for technology, data and clinical management. TECHNATION Health and its Advocacy Committee are currently developing positions on a range of privacy and security policy issues over the course of this year, 2020.  Positions developed will address issues that are of concern to the vendor community, or areas where the vendor community can make substantial and meaningful contributions to the public debate. If your organization would like to join with us or receive more information on this initiative, please contact our Senior Health Policy Advisor, Susan Anderson.

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#Tech4Canada                                            

#TechComesTogether

hEr VOLUTION announces cause marketing partnership with Alexio Corporation to help support girls in STEM due to COVID-19 pandemic. Learn more

Check out IDC Canada’s Canadian COVID-19 IT Impact Dashboard. It’s a free tool that helps businesses make sense of complex and multi-dimensional economic trends during the COVID-19 pandemic (produced in partnership with Rel8ed.to Analytics). Learn more

Infectious disease experts warn that we are likely to see continued waves of COVID-19 cases in the foreseeable future. As such, it is reasonable to expect that localized cancellations of elective surgical services may be sporadic and ongoing. Novari Health is working to guide their clients in using their technology’s full capabilities as they tackle the backlog. Learn more

There are currently volunteer opportunities with SPARK Ontario, the organization the Ontario government has partnered with to match up organizations in need with willing volunteers.  The idea is to encourage volunteerism across the province to support vulnerable seniors, people with disabilities and other Ontarians impacted by the COVID-19 outbreak.  The goal is to ensure seniors and persons with disabilities have access to food, medicine and necessities. A number of organizations in the province require volunteers to assist them in providing their core services. As well, Ontarians have been calling into government’s contact centres, MPP offices and other channels asking what they can do to help during pandemic. SPARK Ontario, is a bilingual online volunteer gateway that connects not-for-profit organizations with volunteers.

TELUS is giving over 10,000 free mobile devices and $0 rate plans, valued at more than $5 million, to hundreds of organizations across the country. These connections are giving hospitalized COVID-19 patients the ability to virtually connect with loved ones, while also enabling isolated seniors, and low-income, homeless, and at-risk individuals with a much needed lifeline to families, health practitioners and vital social support services during this complex time. Learn more

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