2021 Data Conference/Presentations

DAY 1: FEBRUARY 18, 2021

Time	Session
11:00-11:05	Welcoming Remarks by Masters of Ceremonies Enrico del Castello, Director, Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada Liz McKeown, Faculty member, Digital Academy, Canada School of Public Service
11:05-11:15	Indigenous Welcome Gilbert Whiteduck, Former Kitigan Zibi Anishinabeg Chief
11:15-11:30	Welcome by Departmental co-hosts Catrina Tapley, Deputy Minister, Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada Taki Sarantakis, President, Canada School of Public Service
11:30-11:45	Opening Remarks Anil Arora, Chief Statistician of Canada, Statistics Canada

Time	Session
	PLENARY DISCUSSION
11:45–13:00	Data for Responsive Public Policy The opening plenary brings together speakers from across the federal government and provincial institutes to discuss how data are used in response to emergent public policy needs. The plenary will focus on overcoming data challenges in high impact areas for policy and program action related to socio-economic and health inequities. Key themes of discussion will include how better data augment the crisis management strategies of government organizations, enhance the value of data innovations and nurture best practices for more inclusive outcomes and effective results. André Loranger, Assistant Chief Statistician, Statistics Canada Ima Okonny, Chief Data Officer, Employment and Social Development Canada Mireille Laroche, Chief Data Officer, Canada Revenue Agency Astrid Guttmann, Chief Science Officer, ICES, Ontario Moderated by: Kara Beckles, Director General, Privy Council Office
13:00–13:15	Health break featuring a video compilation of data applications from various departments (rolling presentation).
	FIRESIDE CHAT
13:15–14:15	The Value of Data for an Innovative and Inclusive Public Policy The fireside chat will provide an opportunity to hear leading practitioners of the Canadian data landscape reflect on how good data support the path toward recovery. Focal points of the conversation are on the data needs to address the structural issues of equity, sustainability and inclusion, and how better data governance and data quality supports innovative initiatives for public good by connecting challenging policy questions with data infrastructures, expertise and analytics needed to address them. Rohinton Medhora, President, Centre for International Governance Innovation Anil Arora, Chief Statistician of Canada, Statistics Canada Vik Pant, Chief Scientist and Chief Science Advisor, Natural Resources Canada Moderated by: Natasha Kim, Assistant Deputy Minister, Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada

Time	Concurrent Breakout Sessions
14:15-15:15	STREAM 1 DATA GOVERNANCE THEME: DATA STRATEGY Implementation of Data Strategies across the Government This session brings together federal departments and agencies for a conversation on the implementation phases of their respective data strategies. The session focuses on key lessons learned in the governance, management and use of data while implementing departmental strategies aligned with the Data Strategy Roadmap for the Federal Public Service issued in November 2018. Jamie Smith, Chief Data Officer, Environment and Climate Change Canada Tom Dufour, Director General, Statistics Canada Daniel MacDonald, Senior Director, Natural Resources Canada Julie McAuley, Chief Results and Delivery Officer, Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada Moderated by: Alain Beaudoin, Assistant Secretary to the Cabinet, Privy Council Office STREAM 2 LEVERAGING DATA ASSETS THEME: DATA FOR POLICY, RESEARCH AND SERVICE Spotlight on Canadian Statistics Advisory Council 2020 Annual Report: Towards a Stronger National Statistical System The Canadian Statistics Advisory Council (CSAC), an independent advisory body put in place by the government in late 2017 to improve the quality of Canada’s national statistics system, issued their first report in October 2020. In this panel, Council members discuss the objectives and findings of their report, and invite input from the audience. The discussion will highlight the recommendations of the Council to overcome the challenges regarding the collection, accessibility and use of detailed statistics. A key theme in the conversation will be the socio-economic and health data gaps that impede decision-making, particularly regarding racialized groups and Indigenous Peoples, and the need for a more integrated data ecosystem. Gail McDonald, Former Executive Director of First Nations Information Governance Centre and CSAC Member Howard Ramos, Chair of CSAC Board and Professor, Western University Jan Kestle, President and CEO, Environics and CSAC Member Moderated by: Céline Le Bourdais, Professor, McGill University and CSAC Member STREAM 3 DATA DEVELOPMENT AND USE THEME: CYBER SECURITY Data Defense in Support of Government of Canada COVID-19 Response Communications Security Establishment’s Canadian Center for Cyber Security (CCCS) plays a key role in the defense of the Government of Canada’s infrastructure, systems, and data assets. This session brings together a panel of CCCS experts to discuss how data security and data defense contribute to the security of the government’s response to COVID-19. The protection of Canadian vaccine research efforts, as well as the security of the COVID-19 tracking application will be some of the focal points of the discussion. Jean-Philippe Racicot, Supervisor, Strategic Cyber Threat Assessment Eric Bisaillon, Director, Security Architecture Lindsay MacDonald, Sector Lead, Health and Academia Sectors, Partnerships Moderated by: Don MacLeod, Director, Autonomous Defense and Sensors
15:15–15:30	Health break featuring a video compilation of data applications from various departments (rolling presentation).
15:30-16:30	STREAM 1 DATA GOVERNANCE THEME: DATA QUALITY & DATA STEWARDSHIP Ensuring Data Quality through Data Stewardship Foundational pieces in the operationalization of data strategies across the Government of Canada include frameworks to advance data quality and ways of formalizing the role of data stewards. How can networks of data stewards better support data quality work at the enterprise level? What are some of the lessons learned in the assignment of department-wide roles and responsibilities regarding data quality? This session will focus on the experience of data governance journeys and discuss approaches to reporting and decision-making as organizations develop tools to support data stewards in their efforts to improve data quality. Lauren Aldwinckle, Manager, Fisheries and Oceans Canada Anton Bazilev, Manager and Jane Lin, Data Governance Analyst, Department of National Defense Crystal Sewards, Manager, Office of Chief Data Officer, Statistics Canada Moderated by: Sébastien Fleurant, Director, Immigration Refugees and Citizenship Canada STREAM 2 LEVERAGING DATA ASSETS THEME: DATA ETHICS AND AI Data Ethics and AI Innovation What are some of the legal, methodological, program/policy and service delivery perspectives that shed light on the ethical issues in the use and management of data? This panel will delineate the ethical principles in the design, functionality and use of data in AI innovation. Participants will address the balance between innovation and ethical use of emerging technologies in AI by reflecting on the experience of automated processes in government programs and services. Benoit Deshaies, A/Director, Treasury Board of Canada Secretariat Eric Rancourt, Director General, Statistics Canada Michelle Mann, General Counsel, and Patrick McEvenue, Senior Director, Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada Moderated by: Maryam Haghighi, Director, Bank of Canada STREAM 3 DATA DEVELOPMENT AND USE THEME: DATA SCIENCE APPLICATIONS Assessing Input Data and Resultant Model Accuracy The presentations in this panel address how to assess input data and communicate resultant model accuracy to clients and partners. Learn how data scientists are putting theory into practice when assessing data for projects and how they work with clients to achieve the desired output quality. Saeid Molladavoudi, Lead Data Scientist , Statistics Canada Stéphane Tremblay, Team Lead, National Research Council Canada Yvan Gauthier, Team Lead, Department of National Defence Moderated by: Monica Pickard, Section Chief, Statistics Canada
16:30–16:35	Closing Remarks for Day 1 by the Masters of Ceremonies

DAY 2: FEBRUARY 19, 2021

Time	Session
11:00-11:15	Welcoming Remarks by Masters of Ceremonies

Time	Session
	PLENARY DISCUSSION
11:15–12:30	Data Journalism: Truth Telling with Data Analysis and Visualizations for Public Interest The second plenary of the Conference brings together data journalists and experts using a variety of data analysis and representation techniques for journalistic investigation and for communicating the uncovered stories to the public. The plenary will focus on the role of data journalism to enhance the evidence base for trusted insight and effective policy-making, and to advance the public conversation in support of inclusive and equitable outcomes. The discussion topics include: techniques to gather and analyze data for investigative journalism; the democratization of data for a new generation of journalists; community-based data literacy projects to address sustainable development goals in Africa; feminist approaches to address data gaps for inclusive social outcomes. Tom Cardoso, Data Journalist, Globe and Mail David McKie, Deputy Managing Editor, National Observer Jocopo Ottaviani, Chief Data Officer, Code for Africa Lauren Klein, Associate Professor, Emory University, co-author of Data Feminism (2020, MIT Press) Moderated by: Caroline Xavier, Associate Deputy Minister, Immigration Refugees and Citizenship Canada
12:30–13:00	Health break featuring a video compilation of data applications from various departments (rolling presentation).
	FIRESIDE CHAT
13:00–14:00	Joys of Joining up: Bridging the Digital, Information Management and Data Worlds The fireside chat of the second day of the Conference brings together Chief Data Officers (CDOs) and Chief Information Officers (CIOs) from across the federal government for a conversation on developing a joined-up approach to governance and the management of data and information. The conversation will address key challenges and opportunities to effectively bridge the scope, roles and responsibilities of CDOs and CIOs in the context of relevant Treasury Board policies, digital government, and the Data Strategy Roadmap for the Federal Public Service. Stephen Burt, Chair of CDO Council; Assistant Deputy Minister, Department of National Defence Sandy Kyriakatos, Chief Data Officer , Canadian Border Services Agency Zaina Sovani, Assistant Deputy Minister and Chief Information Officer, Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada Moderated by: Marc Brouillard, A/Chief Information Officer of Canada, Treasury Board of Canada Secretariat

Time	Concurrent Breakout Sessions
14:00-15:00	STREAM 1 DATA GOVERNANCE THEME: DATA STANDARDS AND METADATA Standards in Action: Emergence of Data Standards to Drive Business Outcomes The panel discussion will explore the value and how to boost the adoption of common data standards across government. Common data standards support the interoperability and the data exchange required both to improve analysis and policymaking, and to hasten progress towards truly digital, user-focused service delivery. Topics include discussion on the business value of standards; how best to develop and introduce standards; how to encourage take-up among departments and agencies; and how to allocate responsibilities for driving and monitoring adoption. David Barraclough, Manager, Organisation of Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) Benjamin Williams, Director, Canadian Mortgage and Housing Corporation Meline Nearing-Hunter, Director and Benoit Deshaies, A/Director, Treasury Board of Canada Secretariat Daniel Gillman, Senior Research Scientist, US Labor Bureau of Statistics. Moderated by: Cory Chobanik, Director, Statistics Canada STREAM 2 LEVERAGING DATA ASSETS THEME: OPEN DATA International Lens: How Open Data is Helping to Solve COVID-19 Whether to track cases, find cures or accelerate vaccine rollout, the pandemic brought to the forefront the acute need for open data. This panel will bring world-renowned open data experts who will share lessons learned and best practices to help improve the release of COVID-19 data. The conversation will aim to raise the awareness of data practitioners around good data governance principles such as data leadership, trust, transparency, standards, collaboration and equity. The discussion will also touch on Government of Canada initiatives that led to the release of more open data and information related to COVID-19. Barbara Ubaldi, Deputy Head, Open and Innovative Government Division, Organisation of Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) Natalia Carfi, Deputy Director, Open Data Charter Nigel Jacob, Co-founder, Mayor’s Office of New Urban Mechanics, City of Boston Moderated by: Melanie Robert, Executive Director, Open Government, Treasury Board of Canada Secretariat STREAM 3 DATA DEVELOPMENT AND USE THEME: DATA USE FOR RESULTS AND DELIVERY Data Partnerships and Infrastructures for Responsive Public Policy – case studies What are some of the prominent examples of foundational resources provided by data partnerships and data networks that are leveraged in response to emergent public policy needs? Join this panel discussion to learn more about use cases for building data products and infrastructures in high impact areas for policy and program implementation. Case studies in focus include the development of benefit knowledge hub for the sharing and analysis of Canada Emergency Response Benefit data; data visualization products for federal, provincial and territorial users to inform the deployment and demand of Personal Protective Equipment in the provinces; and establishing data infrastructures for developing and sharing multi-province health data. Donna Curtis Maillet, Professor, Health Data Research Network and University of New Brunswick Gillian Dawson, Director, Health Canada Vedmani Sharan, Policy Analyst, Employment and Social Development Canada Moderated by: Gabrielle Fitzgerald, Director, Infrastructure Canada
15:00–15:15	Health break featuring a video compilation of data applications from various departments (rolling presentation).
	Plenary Discussion
15:15–16:30	Data Literacy Matters The third and concluding plenary of the Conference will feature unique perspectives on data literacy for those who manage, analyze and use data and data products to participate more actively in the data landscape. Conversation themes will include: approaches to measure, map and develop data literacy across organisations; current initiatives to support data literacy training and upskilling in the Government of Canada; data literacy as a cluster of essential competencies needed for the appreciation of the full value of administrative data beyond its immediate operational use, including its value for transparent government and its impact on public policy and the public good; data literacy demands on the public service and the range of learning opportunities and innovative solutions for core government functions in areas of digital enablement, accessibility and data sharing. Jane Crofts, Founder and CEO, Data to the People Yvan Clermont, Director General, Statistics Canada Ümit Kiziltan, Chief Data Officer, Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada Taki Sarantakis, President, Canada School of Public Service Moderated by: Neil Bouwer, Vice-President, Canada School of Public Service
16:30–16:35	Closing Remarks for Day 2 by Co-Hosts

File:..Data Conference 2021 Agenda Full Program-Version 02052021.1E (002).pdf