Canada in the Network Age: Towards an Innovative Economy and Society

Bruce Drake, Industry Canada’s executive director for the Pacific region, delivered the keynote address at last month’s United Telecom Council Canadian conference. An adaptation of his remarks follows: We are now in the network age, with instant access to knowledge. This is transforming business; generating borderless, global economies; and creating new ways of citizen-government engagement. We have innovation in every community. We have innovation in every business. Broadband is the platform. Canada took an early interest, promising to make this the most connected nation in the world. This vow was stated in several speeches from the throne, budget speeches and remarks by the Prime Minister. We have had tremendous success in basic connectivity. Canada is number one in G7 Internet use according to the International Telecommunication Union. We are second in connectedness (after the United States) according to the Conference Board. The OECD says we are among the lowest for communications costs in the G7. All 15,600 of our schools and 3,400 libraries are connected, and we have 8,800 community access sites. Over 9,400 volunteer organizations have been connected. We have digitized government collections. The Economist says we are number 4 in e-readiness. The ICT sector contributes 47.5 per cent of the total private sector R&D. CA*-net is acknowledged as a world leader in R&D networks. Accenture voted us number one in government on-line. Now we need to build on this. Other countries are moving ahead to become leaders in the network age. Sweden is spending $1.24 billion on connectivity; the U.S. $3.35 billion each year; France will spend $2.2 billion; Germany $1.1 billion. Korea has spent $25 billion from 1997 until today. The United Kingdom and Japan are also active in this rollout. Provinces taking action The provinces and territories are already taking action. Alberta has spent $193 million rolling out its SuperNet broadband infrastructure to 422 communities. The Yukon is spending $17 million on its Connect Yukon plan linking 11 communities, the largest per capita investment in the country. Saskatchewan is spending $21 million for its CommunityNet infrastructure in 366 communities. Quebec has invested $75 million in "Villages branchés" to connect schools with cutting edge telecommunications. Likewise, New Brunswick has committed $7 million to bring broadband to all public schools. Here in British Columbia, the premier’s technology council is currently seeking input on strategies for digital divide. Canada must move beyond connectedness. Government-wide partnership is required in the fields of e-content, e-health, e-learning, e-government and e-business. We have begun this process through actions such as CAP, SchoolNet, CA*net 4 and others. We have made many accomplishments in government online. The 1999 spectrum auction was the first one conducted over the Internet. It won the Distinction Award for Excellence in Public Service from MIT. We now issue virtual licences rather than paper copies, thereby eliminating over 300,000 pieces of paper. We need client partnerships. Our vision is to establish partnerships. Our project is the spectrum e-commerce e-service delivery. This means we can improve services to our clients, responding to their needs. We would like to start discussion with the UTC about setting up partnerships. High speed connectivity is a key element in the Innovation Agenda. Consultations will be held with key stakeholders across the country, providing an opportunity to increase awareness and educate the public on the benefits of broadband. Let us know what you think of Bruce Drake’s remarks or formalize your opinion in a Newsmakers column of about 650 words. Email ppark@decima.ca

Canada in the Network Age: Towards an Innovative Economy and Society

News | April 9, 2002

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Canada in the Network Age: Towards an Innovative Economy and Society

News | April 9, 2002

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