Background and issues
This publication offers an up-to-date analysis of public data interoperability in Canada. It incorporates recent developments in federal and provincial policies (notably Quebec’s 2026 Digital Sovereignty Statement and two relevant 2026–2027 departmental plans). It also reflects on  the acceleration of transformations linked to artificial intelligence (AI). This study builds on the strategic overview and call to action  of 2 February 2026. It  adds a physical and systemic dimension: AI is no longer merely a software technology, but a physical infrastructure dependent on energy resources, data centres and networks (McKinsey & Company, 2026; Barbet, IRIS, 2026). FPT+ interoperability (= federal-provincial-territorial, municipal and First Nations) is therefore no longer merely an administrative modernisation project, but a central lever of Canada’s strategic capacity, on a par with energy networks or telecommunications.

Three geopolitical and technological dynamics are shaping this context: the fragmentation of supply chains and their reconfiguration around economic security and resilience (Chatham House, 2026); the industrialisation of AI, marked by a concentration of computing power (Stargate project) and increased reliance on physical infrastructure (Beaumier & Cadieux, IRPP, 2026); digital sovereignty, redefined as the ability to structure dependencies rather than seek absolute technological autonomy (Munk School, 2026).

Key proposals

1. The Canadian domestic market (30–32% of GDP) must be treated as a strategic infrastructure for resilience, whose performance depends on data integration (the St. Lawrence–Great Lakes corridor as a demonstrator).
2. FPT+ interoperability is no longer a technical project, but the prerequisite for an integrated domestic market and predictable economic governance (Dudoit et al., CIRANO, 2026).
3. Strategic AI acts as a performance multiplier in key sectors (supply chains, critical minerals, the Arctic), provided that the underlying data is interoperable (Goldfarb, CSA, 2026).

Institutional architecture and roadmap
The coordination between the Treasury Board Secretariat (TBS), Shared Services Canada (SSC) and the Office of Digital Transformation (ODT) is analysed as a structural issue to prevent fragmentation. Our roadmap for 2026–2028 proposes: Flagship use cases (St. Lawrence–Great Lakes corridor); an effective FPT+ strategic data network (supply chains, infrastructure, finance; health, etc.); an FPT+ governance framework with coordination mechanisms and safeguards for data protection and institutional capacity building (innovation labs, training for human resources in the public sector and civil society). 

Conclusion
Contemporary sovereignty is no longer measured by the possession of physical resources but by the capacity to integrate data, infrastructure, and decisions. FPT+ interoperability is the key lever for transforming fragmentation into a strategic capability, strengthening Canada’s decision-making autonomy in a globalised environment (Centre for Data Innovation, 2026). Without coordinated action by 2028, the country’s room for manoeuvre will diminish in the face of the consolidation of technological architectures dominated by a few players.