{"id":184192,"date":"2026-04-30T08:42:21","date_gmt":"2026-04-30T12:42:21","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.interac.ca\/?post_type=content&p=184192"},"modified":"2026-04-30T08:42:28","modified_gmt":"2026-04-30T12:42:28","slug":"interac-in-conversation-with-manjit-minhas-what-does-it-mean-to-be-an-enabler-of-digital-prosperity","status":"publish","type":"content","link":"https:\/\/www.interac.ca\/en\/content\/business\/interac-in-conversation-with-manjit-minhas-what-does-it-mean-to-be-an-enabler-of-digital-prosperity\/","title":{"rendered":"Interac in conversation with Manjit Minhas \u2014 What does it mean to be an \u2018Enabler\u2019 of digital prosperity?"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

In a more connected world, Canadian businesses need to compete harder and harder just to survive.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Canada is facing transformational shifts in the ways we move money and transact. These changes could represent the start of a new era of digital prosperity \u2014 but only if we take bold steps.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Interac is working hard to ensure Canada seizes the opportunity, in part by giving businesses the tools they need to make the leap into the digital future and lead in the global marketplace. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

That\u2019s what it means to be an Enabler<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Fatema Pirone<\/a>, Head, Verification at Interac, recently sat down with entrepreneur Manjit Minhas<\/a> to talk about what \u201cdigital prosperity\u201d means, particularly to the small and medium-sized enterprises that drive the Canadian economy. Manjit agrees that Canadians have to take decisive steps to turn innovation into prosperity. As she observes, the best way to predict the future is to create it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

See below for an edited version of their conversation, or listen to the audio in full<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Enabling digital prosperity for Canada\u2019s future  <\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Fatema Pirone:<\/strong> If you had to describe your vision for digital prosperity in Canada, what would that look like?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Manjit Minhas:<\/strong> First and foremost, everybody has to be able to have access to digital tools, and that means that it’s affordable and that it’s simple. For businesses \u2014 small, medium and large; it doesn\u2019t matter what size you are and it doesn’t matter who you are \u2014 technology is the basis of everything.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

As a business owner, when I’m looking for digital technology, it has to be fast in order to keep up with the speed of my business. It has to be efficient and accurate.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Another essential is security. In this day and age, everybody’s scared of fraud, so we have to be able to trust [the solution we\u2019re using]. It needs to feel secure. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Digital prosperity and Small businesses<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Fatema:<\/strong> Entrepreneurs and small businesses are really the backbone of our economy. For them to thrive, digital prosperity has to mean giving them the ability to innovate. At Interac, we’re constantly asking ourselves how we can create platforms and solutions that help Canadian businesses innovate, grow, and compete \u2014 whether they’re small, medium or large. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

An example is Interac Verified<\/a>, a product I lead in the market. It’s a suite of solutions designed to help businesses unlock new digital opportunities. If a business can securely verify customers, speed up that onboarding and better manage fraud, they can grow entirely in new ways. We want them to grow faster and compete not just locally, but internationally and globally.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

That\u2019s the kind of infrastructure that really enables levelling the playing field and supports the prosperity we\u2019re talking about. <\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\""Digital<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Canada\u2019s GDP challenge, and its strengths  <\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Fatema<\/strong>: Our ambition [to help small businesses grow] is particularly relevant given recent economic findings. In 2025, the Organization for Economic Co-Operation and Development (OECD) found that while resilient, Canada’s GDP performance and productivity continue to lag. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

What is currently working here in Canada, in your opinion, and what are some of the things that we think we need to change?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Manjit<\/strong>: First, there are a lot of great things that are working. We have some amazing talent, some homegrown talent, and some universities in this country that are bringing global talent to Canada. But like you said, there are things that aren’t working either. I do think that with government comes red tape and bureaucracy. It’s definitely harder to access capital in this country; sometimes we can be less risk-tolerant with capital.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Fatema<\/strong>: At the same time, we’re seeing there is a growing Canada-first mentality in our innovation spaces. I think this is the first time that Canada is getting very attuned to how much we are relying on others to create capabilities and technologies for us. And there is a matter of sovereignty. How do we build capability and solutions for Canadians, by Canadians, and keep that in Canada? <\/p>\n\n\n\n

I would love to see the market really invest deeply here, both public and private sector, so that in five to 10 years, we are not so reliant on [foreign] and big tech.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\"<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

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