Government in the Connected Era

Abstract

Digital government is not about putting things online, but rather a public sector that understands and exists fully in a digital world, which includes understanding the reasonable limits of digital approaches and the relative merits of the analog world. The digital era has created unprecedented speed and reach for citizens accessing government services to voice their opinion about the policies behind those services. It’s created ways for citizens to directly change or circumvent government programs. And, perhaps most importantly, the digital age has revealed many previously invisible voices and perspectives. This chapter will explore how Canadian governments are evolving, what digital government means for citizens, and what questions remain unanswered.