What’s needed after Election Day? Public Entrepreneurship

Today is election day in Canada. As citizens cast their ballots, there is much at stake — not just for Canadians, but given the current geopolitical landscape and the relationship with our southern neighbour, the implications are vast and consequential.

In recent months, we’ve seen a surge in business-minded policy proposals for the Canadian government, particularly from initiatives like Build Canada. These proposals largely advocate for running government more like a business — streamlining bureaucracy, cutting regulation, and applying private sector efficiency models to public services.

On the surface, many of these ideas seem sensible. Who wouldn’t want more efficient government services? Less red tape? More innovation in the public sector?

But as UK Cabinet Office Minister Pat McFadden wisely noted, “You cannot kill complexity with cleverness when it comes to improving public services.” Government isn’t a startup. It can’t simply pivot when strategies fail. It must serve everyone — not just the digitally connected, not just the majority, and certainly not just the profitable demographics.

The tech entrepreneurial class often expresses frustration with government bureaucracy, viewing it as an impediment to progress rather than a necessary framework for equitable governance. As The Walrus recently reported, there’s a growing sentiment among wealthy tech entrepreneurs that Canada’s future can be treated “like a software update” — implement new code, fix the bugs, and release version 2.0 of the country.

This perspective misunderstands the fundamental nature of governance. Democracy is messy by design. It requires deliberation, compromise, and careful consideration of diverse needs.

What we need isn’t less business involvement in government — it’s a different kind of involvement: public entrepreneurship.

Public entrepreneurs recognize that government and business have different objectives but complementary strengths. They understand that the public sector’s mandate to serve everyone equitably is not a bug but a feature. And most importantly, they’re committed to innovation that preserves democratic values while improving outcomes.

Public-private collaboration is essential because neither sector alone has all the answers. Government brings legitimacy, scale, and a mandate to serve everyone. Business brings agility, technical expertise, and innovation methodologies. Together, they can create solutions neither could achieve independently.

So here’s my challenge to the folks behind Build Canada and all business leaders with ideas about government reform:

Stay invested in good government, regardless of today’s election outcome.

If your preferred candidates win, wonderful — now help them govern effectively for all Canadians. If they lose, don’t retreat to the sidelines or become purely oppositional. Canada needs your talents, perspectives, and resources regardless of who forms the government.

Actually, literally invest in good government. Create teams that can work on public goods. Partner with public servants who understand the complexities of governance but may lack resources or technical expertise to implement innovations.

Don’t run roughshod over dedicated public servants trapped in systems that resist change. Instead, work alongside them. Pressure leadership to adopt structures that enable innovation. Demand excellence, yes — but also provide the support needed to achieve it. Be patient but sustained in your efforts. Change doesn’t happen overnight, but progress starts with two-week sprints.

Help our leaders understand that government services should be treated and built like usable products, understanding that the “users” are Canadians with rights, not just consumers with preferences.

The public sector needs your help. It needs your creativity, your problem-solving skills, and your technological expertise. But it needs these contributions within a framework that respects democratic principles and the universal service mandate of government.

So don’t tap out if your guy doesn’t win today. Instead, figure out how your teams can help public servants deliver on Canada’s Digital Ambition.

The future of Canada isn’t a partisan project. It’s a collaborative one. And true public entrepreneurs understand that the most meaningful innovations often happen at the intersection of sectors, perspectives, and values.

Let’s build that future together, starting tomorrow — regardless of today’s results.