[Advisors] budget consultations - v. 2

[Michael Gurstein]

Marita and all,

 

For various reasons I'm only operating on a couple of cylinders but I'll try
to add something by midday Sunday at the latest,

 

M

 

From: advisors-bounces at tc.ca [mailto:advisors-bounces at tc.ca] On Behalf Of
Marita Moll
Sent: January 22, 2016 4:15 PM
To: TC Advisors <advisors at tc.ca>
Subject: [Advisors] budget consultations - v. 2

 

So here is a new version incorporating some of the comments from Garth and
James.

1. In your opinion how can we better support our middle class?

-- ICT and digital literacy are today's most powerful catalysts for social
and economic innovation, and Canada is falling behind;

-- Ample, accessible and affordable broadband has become essential to
supporting such innovation;

-- A world-class digital strategy has become essential to maintaining
Canada's social and cultural relevance and economic competitiveness.

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 to
harness that resourcefulness, the government must lead with a digital
strategy that will build capacity for social and economic innovation at the
community level.

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. 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.
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. Supporting projects that
lead to municipally owned fibre as an open public utility will ensure that
the community can use ICT to bootstrap local development and to practice
digital inclusion techniques so that everyone benefits from the changes. 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

 

 

 

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