Privacy and Digital Trade Council

Building for the Future of Business

The future of business in Canada and around the world is digital. Even traditional, in-person commerce routinely depends on digital infrastructure, is subject to digital privacy legislation, and networks that cross international boundaries. In short, privacy and digital trade is ubiquitous.

Accelerated by the pandemic, this new reality creates challenges and opportunities alike. However, despite business’ quick adoption of new technology, governments have been moving at different speeds when updating existing laws or regulations, or introducing new ones. This has now created a patchwork of rules, regulations, and frameworks both within Canada and around the world.

Now, there is a risk that these patchworks will inhibit the ability of businesses to innovate and adopt privacy and digital trade initiatives, as well as restrict the ability of consumers to fully benefit from the digital economy.

With Canada’s technologically advanced economy and access to global markets, our country is well positioned to make the most of the global transition to privacy and digital trade – but we have to get it right. Canada needs to be building for the future of business.

The Council

To help drive the conversation and shape policy development, the Canadian Chamber of Commerce’s Privacy and Digital Trade Council has brought business leaders together from across sectors and businesses sizes to advocate for a consistent, harmonized, and predictable approach from governments in regards to privacy, cross-border data flows, payments, and taxation surrounding ecommerce and the digital economy.

Through the Council, the Canadian Chamber will work with the federal government and leverage our role as the representative of Canadian business to international business platforms including Business at OECD, the G7 and G20’s business advisory groups, and the International Chamber of Commerce to help drive consistency and harmonization wherever possible on these issues.

For more information on the Council, please contact Ulrike Bahr-Gedalia, Senior Director, Digital Economy, Technology & Innovation.

Co-Chairs

Victor Gomez
Assistant Vice President, Government and Regulatory Affairs, Sun Life

Clark Rabbior
Head of Government Affairs & Multilateral Relations, Shopify

Key Issues

The Privacy and Digital Trade Council is focused on policy recommendations within three areas of opportunities for Canada. Specific recommendations will be forthcoming in the coming year.

Increasing participation of SMEs in privacy and digital trade opportunities internationally. Developing recommendations on how they can take advantage of various free trade agreements and measures the federal government can take to help SMEs innovate and grow in the digital sphere.

Modernizing Canada’s privacy legislation and advocating for consistency in privacy and data collection rules across Canada, and internationally where possible. Developing recommendations for modernizing federal legislation, including any amendments to privacy legislation, and developing recommendations on ensuring that provincial regulations are not duplicating or conflicting with each other.

Advocating for evidence-based international frameworks that promote investment and innovation in the digital economy. Developing recommendations that will lead to economic growth for Canadians based on real-world evidence to help create opportunities for Canadians and Canadian businesses.

Members