[Advisors] response to budget consultation ques.

[Marita Moll]

So, I hope you are planning to enter an intervention in the budget 
consultations that expresses this -- or, you may rewrite mine if you 
wish. There are not many ways for us to get our views on the table.  Got 
to start somewhere.

Marita

On 1/22/2016 6:38 PM, James Van Leeuwen wrote:
> Fulfilling the Government's stated or implied objectives is almost 
> entirely a matter of building capacity at the *community* level for 
> social and economic innovation.
>
> Social innovation has become the principal catalyst for economic 
> innovation, and social innovation can only be driven effectively from 
> the bottom up - not from the top down.
>
> The most valuable role that local and senior governments can play is 
> to incentivize and invest in leadership in social innovation at the 
> community level.
>
> This is how Germany has managed to get so far down the road in 
> transitioning from an energy economy rooted in thermal and nuclear 
> energy to one that is rooted in renewable energy.
>
> Strategy came from the top down, leadership came from the bottom up.
>
> https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Energy_transition_in_Germany
>
>
> At this juncture, I think it’s safe to assume that the Government 
> already knows the following:
>
> 1) ICT and digital literacy are today’s most powerful catalysts for 
> social and economic innovation, and Canada is falling behind;
>
> 2) Ample, accessible and affordable broadband has become essential to 
> supporting such innovation;
>
> 3) A world-class digital strategy has become essential to maintaining 
> Canada’s social and cultural relevance and economic competitiveness.
>
>
> What the Government doesn’t seem to know is how to craft a strategy 
> that will work with our kind of geographic realities (huge landmass) 
> and market realities (incumbents).
>
> For TC to be most effective in its advocacy, I think we should be 
> focusing all of our attention on the critical role of community 
> leadership in social and economic innovation, and what are the most 
> effective ways to cultivate and support such leadership.
>
> I think we should maintain a singular focus on these issues until 
> there is a chorus loud and strong enough to command the attention of 
> governments large and small.
>
> JvL
>
>
>
>
>> On Jan 22, 2016, at 3:13 PM, Marita Moll <mmoll at ca.inter.net 
>> <mailto:mmoll at ca.inter.net>> wrote:
>>
>>
>> Well, I am sure this would cause some headscratching -- I will try to 
>> insert by rewording.  Probably, at the federal level they don't do 
>> much municipal-speak.
>> Marita
>> On 1/21/2016 11:40 AM, Garth Graham wrote:> Somewhere in there, 
>> (probably in No.2?), we have to make it clearer that broadband is 
>> essential LOCAL infrastructure, and that the existing reliance on 
>> market-based primary telecommunications companies is NOT going to get 
>> us there.  Say something like…>> An effective national digital 
>> economy strategy will recognize that local/ municipal / community 
>> ownership of broadband infrastructure as a public utility is the only 
>> route to ensuring that communities are “smart” enough to take charge 
>> of their own digital futures.  The provision of municipally owned 
>> fibre as an open public utility will ensure that the community has 
>> the capacity to understand how ICT use can be used to bootstrap local 
>> development and to practice digital inclusion techniques to ensure 
>> that everyone benefits from the changes.>> GG>>> >> On Jan 20, 2016, 
>> at 2:21 PM, Marita Moll<mmoll at ca.inter.net 
>> <mailto:mmoll at ca.inter.net>>  wrote:>>>> I have put together a few 
>> motherhood responses to the budget consultation questions -- mostly 
>> cribbed from the last Alternative Federal Budget paper that I 
>> contributed to because I don't have time to do anything else.  Please 
>> add, comment, delete.  Otherwise, I will just submit it. There is no 
>> deadline on the consultation page -- but it must be soon.>>>> 
>> ----------------------------------->>>> 1. In your opinion how can we 
>> better support our middle class?>> A national digital economy 
>> strategy is a vital part of federal policy that has been allowed to 
>> languish for too long. All Canadians will be supported by a 
>> committment to return to a leadership role in this sector. Growing 
>> evidence supports the connection between household income, jobs, and 
>> modern information and communications infrastructure. As Prime 
>> Minister Trudeau said in his speech to the Davos meetings, Canadians 
>> are resourceful. But the government must lead with a digital strategy 
>> to move the economy firmly into the 21st century.>> 2. What 
>> infrastructure needs can best help grow the economy, protect our 
>> environment and meet your priorities locally?>> Economic growth in 
>> the 21st century cannot occur without 21st-century tools. A program 
>> to support community-driven access and education initiatives across 
>> the country would help ensure prosperity is both deep and wide 
>> throughout the country. Over the years, this kind of initiative has 
>> created jobs and brought new businesses to many areas at very little 
>> cost. The government must improve Canada’s communications 
>> infrastructure and facilitate access, use, and skills in this area by 
>> committing to effective broadband from coast to coast to coast that 
>> supports a full range of communications applications.>> 3. How can we 
>> create economic growth, protect the environment and meet local 
>> priorities while ensuring that the most vulnerable don't get left 
>> behind.>> National programs that provide access, education, and 
>> support for the effective use of new communications technologies in 
>> communities should be considered essential investments that generate 
>> demand and build human capacity to meet that demand. We must ensure 
>> that all Canadians are able to participate in the new economy. 
>> Reintroduction and expansion of support for public access programs 
>> will boost local economies by encouraging them to use new 
>> technologies for community development and by offering collaborative 
>> tools. When Canadian communities suffer because of major job losses, 
>> these programs help provide support in an economic downturn.>> 4. Is 
>> the implementation of these new priorities and initiatives realistic? 
>> Will it help us grow our economy?>> Affordable high-speed internet 
>> access is an indispensable asset for the economic health of 
>> communities of all sizes. It attracts businesses, encourages local 
>> entrepreneurship, and maintains high standards in education and 
>> health services, all of which support local sustainability. Some of 
>> the funds earmarked for infrastructure spending in this budget should 
>> be channelled into designing and implementing a digital strategy and 
>> into extending rural and remote connectivity programs. The federal 
>> government should work with provincial authorities to encourage the 
>> development of a digitally literate population, and the Minister of 
>> Employment, Workforce and Labour should review policies and programs 
>> to ensure that priority is given to training in digital skills.>>>> 
>> Marita>> _______________________________________________>> Advisors 
>> mailing list>> Advisors at tc.ca <mailto:Advisors at tc.ca>>> 
>> http://victoria.tc.ca/mailman/listinfo/advisors>> > 
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