Canada stepped into the spotlight last week as the country of honour at VivaTech—Europe’s largest innovation forum—marking a pivotal moment to reflect on the growing alignment with European priorities, from digital sovereignty to ethical AI. The accelerating pace of technological disruption, coupled with mounting geopolitical tensions, has exposed a critical gap in technological dependency—putting at risk Canada’s strategic autonomy. This moment calls for Canada and Europe to forge a digital alliance grounded in trust, transparency, and autonomy.

Cloud and infrastructure: the backbone of strategic autonomy

Canada’s economy, public services, and innovation ecosystem are becoming increasingly reliant on digital infrastructure. Cloud services are no longer optional—they are foundational. Yet without intentional design, this dependency can erode our control over critical data and platforms.

Today, over 60 per cent of cloud services in Canada are provided by five United States-based companies, with Microsoft and Google alone controlling 93 per cent of office software usage. This concentration leaves public institutions and businesses exposed to decisions made outside our borders—on tariffs, regulation, or platform access—introducing legal and operational risks: extraterritorial laws may compel the transfer of sensitive data abroad, while the lack of local control increases the risk of disruption or even shutdown of critical digital services.

To reduce this exposure, Canada must reclaim control over its digital infrastructure. True digital sovereignty means ensuring data control, residency, and autonomy from external interference. This requires strict compliance with local laws and open, reversible solutions that empower users to evolve and build freely—without dependency or constraint.

Public procurement as lever, private procurement as driver

Canada has made progress toward multi-cloud and open-source strategies. The federal Digital Operations Strategic Plan discourages vendor lock-in and supports agility. The recent appointment of Canada’s first AI and digital innovation minister, Evan Solomon, signals a clear commitment to reinforcing national digital infrastructure. Yet when it comes to execution, Canadian firms—especially in the private sector—continue to default to incumbents.

Public procurement, which represents approximately $200-billion in annual economic activity in Canada at the federal, provincial, and municipal levels, must play a stronger role in shifting this tide. Prioritizing solutions that meet this country’s legal standards, offer transparency, and guarantee data control can stimulate a virtuous cycle: creating scale, incentivizing domestic and allied providers, and strengthening our digital backbone.

But ultimately, the private sector must lead. As geopolitics enters boardrooms and audit committees, business leaders must view digital infrastructure as a strategic choice. Opting for sovereign-ready platforms is no longer just a technical or financial decision—it’s a long-term investment in Canada’s autonomy and resilience.

Building on shared values

VivaTech’s decision to spotlight Canada this year is more than symbolic. It affirms the growing convergence between European and Canadian approaches to digital innovation. Both regions share a belief in democratic accountability, transparent governance, and open economies. These shared principles should form the foundation of a renewed digital alliance—built on cloud-agnostic services designed for interoperability and privacy. This momentum also presents a timely opportunity to advance complementary policy agendas, focused on digital accountability, market fairness, and responsible AI and data governance—both in Europe and in Canada. 

Strategic autonomy is not about isolation—it’s about building strong local foundations and choosing our dependencies wisely. Sovereignty in the digital age starts with control over domestic infrastructure, trusted governance, and the power to choose. With this foundation in place, Canada can confidently engage with likeminded partners to help shape resilient, open, and interoperable digital ecosystems.

Estelle Azemard is the vice-president Canada at OVHcloud.

The Hill Times