The Data Policy Coalition Brings Nonprofit Sector Voice to Ontario Data Strategy Consultation
How can the Government of Ontario better serve the people of Ontario through a data-driven approach? And what does a data-driven approach mean? This is exactly the focus of the third discussion paper released as part of the Ontario Data Strategy Consultation process.
Discussion paper 3 - on Advancing Better, Smarter Government - marks the end of the province’s consultation process that launched in late July. Comments on the paper were accepted through November 29 and the province is planning to publish the strategy by the end of 2019.
In this post we’re sharing the Data Policy Coalition’s written submission to this final discussion paper. We are encouraged to see the Ontario government looking to build capacity in how it manages, protects, and shares data for public benefit. However, the Data Strategy Consultation process and discussion papers have not acknowledged the role played by nonprofits as users of data, holders of data, and essential partners in policy development, program evaluation, and data management.
Our submission to this final discussion paper builds on our response to Discussion Paper 1, Promoting Trust and Confidence in Ontario’s Data Economy. We see an important role for the nonprofit sector in working with government to:
engage and amplify the voices of community members
ensure effective management, protection, and sharing of data towards designing and delivering programs that best meet the needs of Ontarians.
To maximize benefits to the people of Ontario we recommend establishing a permanent forum for engagement with the nonprofit sector in regards to data. The nonprofit sector, as a partner in solutions, can offer unique role in helping the government have impact through better use and sharing of data. We invite further dialogue and collaboration towards building and implementing the Data Strategy.