Buying Canadian Is Not Enough: Building True Technological Independence in Government

At Button., we've spent considerable time thinking about the growing "Buy Canadian" movement. While Canadians enthusiastically support locally roasted coffee, clothing, and consumer goods, we've identified some unique opportunities to apply these principles in the world of technology and software procurement. 

At Button, we emphasize that sovereignty exists on a spectrum rather than as a binary choice between full Canadian or foreign control. Every organization must acknowledge that some level of foreign-created technology or SaaS is likely to remain in the supply chain, and adopt a strategy to strategically manage any risks. The objective of “buy Canadian” in the tech world is more often to gradually reduce dependencies on foreign tech companies and shift toward Canadian-owned or managed solutions where they better align with the specific requirements and regulations governing Canadian operations.

The Canadian Technology Sovereignty Paradox

‍Our conversations with partners have revealed a common dilemma: when attempting to reduce reliance on American-owned software solutions, organizations often inadvertently increase dependence on other American tech giants. For example, you eliminate dependence on one American vendor, only to transition to increased use of another piece of software owned by Microsoft or Adobe, without identifying a viable Canadian-owned alternative. 

This is where the technology landscape becomes more nuanced. At Button, we recognize that Canadian tech companies face significant challenges competing with the scale and comprehensive offerings of American giants. However, we've identified substantial opportunities to build technological sovereignty incrementally, fostering a more independent and resilient tech ecosystem within Canada.

Transforming Team Collaboration and Communication

Any easy area to assess for improvement? Communication channels. Many of our clients face team collaboration challenges with the sheer number of notifications their team receives - through Slack, Discord, WhatsApp, Twitter. Constant pinging, constant interruptions.

Research supports the idea that  constant interruptions significantly impact productivity. Each notification check costs approximately 23 minutes of regained focus time, leading to lost productivity, increased staff burnout, and compromised mental well-being.

Our solution? Create a custom Canadian-grown application to support your organization’s ideal collaboration patterns. It’s surprisingly easy. Design your own custom interface, a unified communication feed that aggregates all channels in a secure, centralized platform. Filter notifications based on urgency and relevance – distinguishing between what requires immediate attention and what constitutes informational noise.

We've successfully implemented solutions using the Matrix protocol for our clients – creating a customized communication platform that increases security and flexibility. Matrix combines notification streams into one app at a protocol level. The Button team customizes it to your needs, including any AI-based add-on features you desire. This approach can reduce your foreign tech dependencies while strengthening data sovereignty, and allowing you to retain tools that your public and customer communities are already formed around. 

Domestic DevOps and Data Sovereignty

Cloud-first strategies across organizations often result in heavy engagement with global tech companies for infrastructure needs. While seemingly efficient, this approach raises critical questions about data sovereignty and foreign influence. At Button, we regularly challenge our clients: What happens when your sensitive data resides in foreign jurisdictions? How can compliance with Canadian privacy laws be guaranteed?

This is why we advocate for architecting with portability as a fundamental principle. The key lies in flexibility – meaning your organization is not locked into international vendor ecosystems.

Commodity services, like virtual machines or block storage are often the same whether you buy from Microsoft, Amazon, or an amazing Canadian provider like Xenyth. Cloud providers often market things as if companies need to purchase proprietary elements. Button works with clients to help focus opportunities to use interchangeable features, so when the need or desire arises to change to a Canadian-owned cloud solution, the change is easy. 

We've guided clients through seemingly minor but impactful decisions – such as selecting Red Hat for open-source solutions instead of Oracle – that contribute to more sustainable, Canadian-centric infrastructure. These choices enable the engagement of Canadian tech talent for ongoing support rather than relying on foreign contractors, creating an ecosystem that prioritizes Canadian sovereignty while delivering enterprise-grade performance.

Licensing Management and Cost Efficiency Through Canadian Solutions

Both large and small organizations frequently rely on SaaS products from global providers that often come with complex pricing models, licensing structures, and hidden costs.

A critical aspect of this sovereignty journey involves hedging against foreign exchange risk and contractual exposures. We often advise our public sector clients to be cognizant of the currencies in which their software licenses are priced. Exchange rate fluctuations can lead to unexpected cost increases, particularly for long-term contracts. Understanding the potential impact of these changes is essential for effective budget management and risk mitigation.

At Button, we're passionate about helping our clients identify Canadian-owned solutions that align with their operational needs and can streamline workflows while maintaining security, privacy, and performance standards. Our expertise lies in navigating this complex landscape to find the optimal balance between functionality, sovereignty, and value.

Conclusion

For strategic leaders, the goal should be clear: creating a technology ecosystem that is not merely efficient but also resilient, secure, and aligned with Canadian values and regulations. By actively seeking Canadian technology providers and integrating them into operations, organizations take meaningful steps toward supporting local innovation while building sustainable and sovereign technology infrastructure.

The journey toward technological independence is undoubtedly complex, but with the right strategic guidance, it becomes entirely achievable. At Button, we're committed to helping public sector organizations navigate this path, identifying opportunities for incremental sovereignty gains that collectively transform into significant independence from foreign tech dominance.