Building a Digital Ontario: Digital and Data Innovation Fellowships
Today, Ontario launches its new Digital and Data Innovation Fellowship Program (DDIF) pilot.
Editor’s note: Organizations of all sizes, operating in Ontario, can nominate a senior backend developer, product manager, user experience designer, service designer or data specialist to join the provincial government as a fellow by sending an email to digitalfellows@ontario.ca. Our team will reply within one business day with next steps.
This week, we invited Kaleed Rasheed, Ontario’s Associate Minister of Digital Government, to share his vision of Building a Digital Ontario by bringing the best of the tech sector into government to help design Ontario’s digital future.
Hello, Ontario!
My name is Kaleed Rasheed and I am Ontario’s first Associate Minister of Digital Government.
It’s truly an honour to serve Ontarians in this unique role, and to have the special privilege of transforming Ontario into a province that puts people first and delivers simpler, faster, and better government for Ontarians, businesses and communities.
Earlier this year, we outlined a clear vision for Building a Digital Ontario that helps protect, support, connect and equip the province’s people and businesses to succeed in a digital world.
Since then, we have been hard at work setting a strong foundation for economic growth and prosperity through various digital and data priorities, including, but not limited to:
· supporting the fight against COVID-19 with online tools
· serving millions of people through Ontario.ca and,
· openly releasing the technology standards for the province’s first digital identity
Simply put, Ontario is home to a thriving technology sector, and with our world-class workforce, business-friendly environment and commitment to help homegrown organizations grow, we’ve inspired dozens of local startups and attracted global companies who have chosen to operate here — in places across our great province, including Kanata, Waterloo, Timiskaming, Whitby, Mississauga, Niagara and everywhere in between.
With this in mind, we want to harness the best of the private sector’s ingenuity, entrepreneurial spirit and tech expertise to help us accelerate digital transformation and innovation across the public sector.
To do that, we are introducing Ontario’s first Digital and Data Innovation Fellowship Program (DDIF) pilot, which brings the best of Ontario’s digital and data talent into government to help design Ontario’s digital future.
My time working in the private sector has taught me that digital talent is critical to Ontario’s success. The competition for this talent is global and fierce. And governments around the world have recognized how vital it is to have skilled technologists working inside their doors to deliver better online services to people and businesses across all parts of the province.
As we’ve learned over the last two years, we need to meet people where they are, not expect them to come to us. Building Ontario, with forward momentum, is the only option. We simply can’t afford to go back.
My team at the Ontario Digital Service is an excellent example of what’s possible when you bring together talented developers, designers, product managers and data experts to deliver the future of government. But we can’t do it alone.
We are stronger, together. That’s why I’m excited to welcome our first cohort of fellows in 2022, and continue the important work of making government work better for all through secure, privacy-protective, accessible and user-friendly digital products and services.
Fellows will be selected from leading technology organizations, and will work at provincial ministries to increase digital and data learning, so that Ontario’s government can take another step toward becoming the world’s most advanced digital jurisdiction.
I’ve had the opportunity to meet with many tech companies, small businesses and startups across this province, and I know that we have the best and brightest working here in Ontario. If your organization is interested in helping to amplify our province’s digital impact, and supporting Ontario’s economic recovery and prosperity, please nominate someone who stands out in your organization to serve as a digital and data innovation fellow.
Organizations can complete a quick application form and learn more at ontario.ca/digitalfellows.
This is an exciting time for our province. We have a great roster of opportunities ready for innovative collaborators and digital leaders, as we continue our mission of building a digital Ontario that leads on the world stage.
Join us in delivering a stronger, more prosperous future for all Ontarians.
