No problem. Thank you.
Here is what mainly explains such a big difference between individual users and companies. We are seeing a real lack of financial capacity in SMEs; it is a reality. However, the main obstacle is organizational, in the sense that there is a resistance to change and to transforming the work process.
When we talk about digital skills, we are not talking about how to use a computer or tools but about how to transform what we do so that the technologies are effective. A major problem, whether in the private or the public sector, is that senior management has generally become more accustomed to outsourcing this responsibility. So little leadership comes from senior management in terms of adopting digital technology.
It must be said that developments in this field are moving very fast. Revolutions used to take place every 100 years. Now they happen every three years. Because of technology, things change very quickly.
The reality is that growth is exponential, which has a direct impact. This partly explains the delay in productivity in Canada. In terms of the GDP, there is a difference of $13 less per hour per employee in Canada compared to the United States. This is a very significant difference. This challenge with productivity will become more pronounced for a very simple reason. It has been shown that productivity is enhanced by the use of digital technology. The U.S. spends $100 per worker whereas Canada invests $53. As a result, the gap between the level of productivity in Canada and the U.S. will widen further if no prompt action is taken to adopt digital technology.
We often wonder what the government’s role could be in this situation. Actually, the government must act more as leader or a mobilizing force. It has been shown that subsidies will not move things forward, but rather targeted initiatives supported by the government that are very well documented and demonstrate the benefits. These initiatives are supported by what is called a generalized approach. We can sort of compare generalization to commercialization.
I have only one minute left. There are several pages you can read for yourselves.
On the next slide, you’ll see some examples I will not discuss. I will simply say that these are areas we are working on in terms of adopting digital technology. In the health sector, for example, we are working with doctors and pharmacists. Patients have their own personal health records. It takes a year or a year and a half for a clinic to accept the transformation of the work process and to take advantage of all the benefits that digital technology has to offer. In transportation, it’s fascinating. Montreal loses $3 billion a year just because people are stuck in traffic rather than working. This gives you an indication of how digital technology can transform those aspects. You can check that on the slides.
Later on, I compare the data on usage in Quebec and Canada. We can say that Canadians are Internet and technology users. It's the same for Americans. From the perspective of its citizens, Canada is the second best in the world in terms of the use of digital technology, but for companies, it ranks 22nd. That too is quite a significant paradox.