Digital Sovereignty and Balanced Technology Strategy

In today's rapidly evolving digital landscape, the Government of Canada faces important decisions about how we build and maintain our technological capabilities. The conversation has moved beyond simple choices between open source and proprietary solutions toward a more nuanced understanding of how both can serve the public interest.

Digital infrastructure has become as essential as physical infrastructure. Just as we maintain public roads and utilities through sustained public investment, our digital foundations require thoughtful stewardship to ensure they remain secure, accessible, and aligned with Canadian values.

The Balanced Approach

A strategic approach recognizes that different technologies serve different purposes. Open source solutions excel as foundational infrastructure—promoting transparency, collaboration, and long-term sustainability. Proprietary systems often provide specialized capabilities and polished user experiences that serve specific operational needs.

The most effective technology strategies leverage the strengths of both approaches, creating a balanced ecosystem that serves diverse public service requirements.

The Role of Public Stewardship

As a major user and funder of technology, the Government of Canada has an opportunity to act as an anchor tenant for critical digital infrastructure. This doesn't mean abandoning proven proprietary solutions, but rather ensuring that essential public goods receive sustained support.

By strategically investing in open source projects that serve public needs, we can:

• Ensure long-term access to critical systems
• Maintain digital sovereignty and security
• Reduce dependency on single vendors
• Foster innovation through collaborative development

Practical Steps Forward

Moving forward, we might consider:

1. Strategic assessment of which technologies function as digital public goods deserving of sustained public investment

2. Hybrid approaches that leverage open source foundations while utilizing proprietary solutions where they provide unique value

3. Capacity building to develop internal expertise in managing and contributing to open source projects

4. Partnership models that engage with both open source communities and private sector innovators

This balanced approach represents neither revolution nor status quo, but thoughtful evolution. It acknowledges that serving the public interest in the digital age requires leveraging all available tools while maintaining focus on long-term sustainability, security, and accessibility.

The goal is not ideological purity but practical effectiveness—building technological capabilities that serve Canadians today while ensuring we maintain control over the systems that will serve them tomorrow.