News story: Memorandum of Understanding between Canada and United Kingdom

The UK and Canadian Governments have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) relating to each nation’s ambitions for Digital Government.

Canada and the UK will now work together towards four shared goals:

to provide better digital public services
to ensure that we support everyone in using digital public services
to promote economic growth
to use open standards for government information, data and software

Minister for Digital Matt Hancock said:

Over the past six years the UK has developed a model for digital government transformation that is recognised as among the best in the world. This Memorandum of Understanding reflects the UK and Canada’s shared ambition to make sure that digital innovation continues to underpin the delivery of our public services.

Scott Brison, President of Canada’s Treasury Board, said:

It’s a pleasure to sign this Memorandum of Understanding with the UK’s Minister for Digital, Matt Hancock. This MOU commits us to working together to deliver improved government services to those we serve, and to do so in an open,transparent manner. I’m excited about the potential of what we can do.

The UK was a pioneer in the first wave of digital and technology reform of the public sector, and by 2016 we were ranked first by the United Nations in their digital government benchmark.

Our technology reforms alone saved over £4bn between 2011-2015 and specific initiatives such as crown hosting and the digital marketplace continue to deliver savings at significant scale through better commercial terms and diversification of supply.