Cybersecurity is key to our economic recovery

We live our lives online now more than ever. It’s where we socialize, it’s where we work, and it’s where our kids have been going to school.
The onset of the COVID-19 pandemic accelerated our use of digital technology. This increased use of online 
connections has also opened the door to cybersecurity issues. Statistics Canada’s Canadian Survey on Business Conditions shows 1 in 5 
Canadian organizations experienced cybersecurity incidents in 2020. Additionally, 1 in 4 organizations reported that adopting technologies was “somewhat” or 
“extremely” challenging. The 2021 Edelman Trust Barometer shows Canadians are more worried about cyber attacks than COVID-19.
The Government of Ontario 
recently released their Building a Digital Ontario strategy and a white paper titled Modernizing Privacy in Ontario: Empowering 
Ontarians and Enabling the Digital Economy. The goal is to create a framework for digital progress that 
prioritizes privacy and security.
Meanwhile, the Government of Canada is working on Bill C-11: Digital Charter 
Implementation Act, a move aimed to address privacy and data collection issues by 
putting Canadians in charge of their data.
Digital expansion and 
adaptation have big 
implications for business growth. It’s key for 
streamlining processes and reaching markets. Similarly, our governments are moving towards digital, allowing them to be more accessible and efficient. But addressing 
security concerns is critical to 
maintaining consumer and business confidence. 
Neglecting cybersecurity will cause us to lag behind at a crucial time as the world moves forward at an ever increasing pace.
The Canadian Chamber of Commerce has highlighted key issues regarding 
cybersecurity:
For Government
• Canada has a strong 
cybersecurity foundation in place, with some of the top global cybersecurity 
companies being Canadian. 
• Investment in cybersecurity is essential to boosting the productivity and efficiency of the Canadian economy. 
Despite our strong 
cybersecurity foundation, Canada is now at risk of being left behind. Canada’s federal investments in cybersecurity are orders of magnitude smaller than the investments being made by our global competitors. 
• Digital expansion has been accelerated by COVID; there is a significant opportunity right now to seize the 
moment and solidify Canada’s position as a global cybersecurity leader. This moment might never come again. 
• Cybersecurity has tremendous potential to create high-skilled, well-paying jobs, increase exports, and contribute to Canada’s economic recovery. 
For Businesses
• Cybersecurity best-practices and awareness are crucial elements in keeping your business and your customer information safe from bad actors. Canadian cybersecurity companies are among the best in the world to provide the protection and training you need. 
• The 2021 budget provided funding for SMEs to invest in digital tech. This is a clear message that cybersecurity investments should go hand-in-hand with 
investment in IT modernization and other digital technologies. 
For Canadians
• Increased investment in 
cybersecurity stands to benefit communities across Canada from both job creation and from improved made-in-Canada 
cybersecurity accessibility and protection. 
• Keeping our data secure and protected matters to every single one of us. 

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