Canadian Government Executive Radio

In this episode of CGE Radio, host J. Richard Jones sits down with Craig McLellan, Founder & CEO of ThinkOn, one of Canada's leading voices in secure cloud infrastructure, sovereign data protection, and resilient digital systems.
As organizations increasingly rely on global cloud platforms, AI tools, and cross-border data services, a critical question emerges: Who truly controls your data? Craig explains why data sovereignty has become a strategic business issue—not just for governments, but for every Canadian organization that depends on digital infrastructure.
Drawing on more than 25 years of experience in technology innovation and security, Craig breaks down the growing importance of maintaining lawful authority, operational continuity, and strategic independence over data, systems, and digital assets. He also explores the broader concept of digital sovereignty, including how infrastructure, software, networks, storage, algorithms, metadata, tokens, and encryption keys all play a role in protecting national and organizational interests.
Listeners will gain practical insights into how businesses can balance innovation with control, leverage cloud technology responsibly, and ask the right questions before handing critical information to vendors or third-party platforms.
About the Guest:
Craig McLellan is the Founder and CEO of ThinkOn, a Canadian-owned cloud services provider recognized for leadership in sovereign cloud infrastructure and secure data protection. Under his leadership, ThinkOn has been named one of Canada's fastest-growing companies by Deloitte's Technology Fast 50™ and The Globe and Mail's Report on Business, and was recognized by Broadcom as Sovereign Cloud Provider for the Americas.
In This Episode, We Explore:
What data sovereignty really means for everyday business owners
Why Canada's digital independence matters now more than ever
The hidden risks of storing data with hyperscalers like AWS and Azure
AI sovereignty risks when proprietary data enters third-party models
Why metadata, tokens, and encryption keys matter as much as the data itself
How to balance sovereignty with the benefits of global cloud infrastructure
What to ask vendors before signing SaaS or cloud contracts
How different national approaches to digital sovereignty impact global business

In a market crowded with options, understanding which platforms truly safeguard sensitive government communications has never been more critical. In this episode of CGE Radio, J. Richard Jones speaks with Maaz Yasin, Global Head of Government Solutions - Secure Communications, Blackberry, and David Wiseman, Vice President of SecuSUITE, Blackberry, to break through the noise.
Listeners will learn:
Why "secure messaging" alone doesn't guarantee secure communications
The four key ways BlackBerry's platform goes beyond basic encryption to protect data
How BlackBerry aligns with Canada's national defense priorities and the renewed focus on defense spending
How the platform proactively addresses emerging threats—from AI and deepfakes to quantum computing
This conversation clears up brand confusion, establishes technical authority, and simplifies decision-making for government leaders tasked with safeguarding critical information. Whether you're a Chief of Staff, CIO, DG, or procurement professional, this episode provides actionable insight into why BlackBerry is the secure communications solution built for Canada in 2025 and beyond.

In this episode of CGE Radio, J. Richard Jones sits down with EY Canada's Janice Horne, Jen Mossop Scott, and Rohit Boolchandani to explore how digital credentials could play a pivotal role in strengthening Canada's economy and restoring its global competitiveness.
With Canada navigating a tense trade dispute with the U.S. and seeking ways to enhance productivity, resiliency, and interprovincial trade, our guests unpack how secure and trustworthy digital identity systems can be a key enabler of growth and unity.
We dive into:
Why global rankings matter and how Canada can climb back up
Lessons from India's Aadhaar system and what Canada could adopt
How to get started in a complex digital policy landscape
Ensuring citizen trust, privacy, and equity in adoption
Tune in for an insightful discussion on how governments can put citizen-centric digital trust at the heart of Canada's economic future.

This week on CGE Radio, we discussed the federal election campaign, the main issues at play, and the challenges and opportunities for the political parties. As well, we delve into the different communication and campaign styles for Liberal leader Mark Carney and Conservative leader Pierre Poilievre, Donald Trump's tariff war, and more. The countdown to the election on April 28th is going to be action-packed! Please come back to CGE Radio for weekly podcasts devoted to the campaign.

Interview with Graig McLellan, Founder & CEO of ThinkOn, Inc. 
In this episode of CGE Radio, J. Richard Jones speaks with Craig McLellan, Founder & CEO of ThinkOn, Inc. Mr. McLellan has been at the forefront of technology innovation and data security in Canada and the U.S. for the past twenty-five years. Under Craig's leadership, ThinkOn continues to grow, both organically and through strategic acquisition, and has been ranked on both the Deloitte Technology Fast 500™ and The Globe and Mail's list of Canada's Top Growing Companies. A pioneer in cloud services, ThinkOn was one of the first companies in the world to receive VMware Cloud Verified certification and was recently recognized as the VMware Sovereign Cloud Partner for Canada. Craig currently sits on advisory boards for several industry-leading organizations including Veeam, Hitachi, and VMware, where he helps to guide strategy.
Think On, Inc. is a cloud service provider with a global data center footprint offering creative solutions for complex data problems. ThinkOn's channel-only distribution model empowers value-add resellers and service providers across North America, the UK, Europe, and Australia through solutions built on leading technology platforms.
In this episode:
Data landscape evolution
Practical steps for strengthen data security
U.S. CLOUD Act impact on Canada.
The importance of data sovereignty
The role of government policy in data sovereignty
And more!