O’Toole announces harder as the shadow minister for Digital Government

Erin O’Toole, Leader of Canada’s Conservatives and the Official Opposition, announced southwest Alberta MP Rachael Harder as the Shadow Minister for Digital Government.

Harder indicated in a statement “there is a growing lack of trust among Canadians in this Liberal government, and as members of the Official Opposition, it is our responsibility to push for greater accountability and transparency.”

“We live in a world that is forever being changed by technology. It affects the way we live and work each day. Although there are incredible benefits to living in a more digitized world, there are also significant risks,” said Harder. “In this file, I am committed to ensuring Canadians receive the most effective and efficient government services, while simultaneously safeguarding their personal data. As government operational systems are increasingly data-driven, it is imperative the use of new technologies are accompanied with appropriate security and privacy guidelines. Canadians deserve to know their data is their own and will be protected.”

“Ultimately, this is about how to best serve and protect the Canadian people. It’s about protecting people’s private information, ensuring full consent for its collection and use is given, and rightful ownership of data is guaranteed.”

“In order to have public confidence in government services, there has to be adequate safeguards, transparency and proper reporting mechanisms. I am looking forward to working with my colleagues to make this happen in my new role.”