Federal government names Shopify CEO to chair digital industries strategy group

Nov 8, 2017 | 6:54 AM

OTTAWA — The federal government says the head of Shopify will chair a strategy group looking for ways to attract more high-tech jobs to the country.

Tobias Lutke, founder and CEO of the company, will chair the digital industries table as one of six industry leaders that will lead an economic strategy table.

Other group leaders already announced include advanced manufacturing chair Charles Deguire, co-founder of Kinova Robotics, agri-food chair Murad Al-Katib, CEO of AGT Food and Ingredients, health/bio-sciences chair Karimah Es Sabar, CEO of Quark Venture, and clean technology chair Audrey Mascarenhas, CEO of Questor Technology.

The government says each chair will preside over a group of about 15 members to help guide federal efforts to create more opportunities for business growth in the sectors as part of the government’s goal of doubling the number of high-growth Canadian companies to 28,000 by 2025.