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So here is a new version incorporating some of the comments from Garth
and James.<br>
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<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;">1. In your opinion how can we better
support our middle class?<br>
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<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;">-- ICT and digital literacy are today’s
most powerful catalysts for social and economic innovation, and
Canada is falling behind;</p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;">-- Ample, accessible and affordable
broadband has become essential to supporting such innovation;</p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;">-- A world-class digital strategy has
become essential to maintaining Canada’s social and cultural
relevance and economic competitiveness.</p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"> 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.</p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;">2. What infrastructure needs can best
help grow the economy, protect our environment and meet your
priorities locally?</p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;">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. </p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"> 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.</p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;">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.</p>
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<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;">4. Is the implementation of these new
priorities and initiatives realistic? Will it help us grow our
economy?</p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;">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.<br>
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<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;">Marita<br>
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