Industry welcomes Clement’s digital promise, but notes work still needs to be done

Senior executives in the digital sector yesterday welcomed Industry Minister Tony Clement’s promise at the Canada 3.0 Conference in Stratford ON to work with industry to develop a strategy to make Canada a leader in digital media. But they cautioned that challenges still remain. In a keynote address to the conference, Clement said digital media is an engine of growth that has the potential to transform Canada’s “economy in ways we have not yet imagined.” He said the presence of skill power and technology puts Canada in an ideal position to be a digital leader and that the Conservative government aims to make Canada “number one” in the construction of digital infrastructure. “Which is why our government is committed to developing—in consultation with you and other experts—an action plan on the digital economy. One that will secure Canada’s position at the leading edge, driving innovation and prosperity for decades to come,” he said. On June 22, Clement is scheduled to co-chair a digital forum bringing together key leaders in the information and communication technology sector that aims to identify the framework for a digital action plan. His statement is seen as a boost to conference organizers who hope the conference will inspire government, industry and academia to come up with a policy framework for the creation of a national digital strategy. Digital industry leaders applauded Clement’s statement but added that a lot of work remains to be done. Michael Dixon, VP, wireless networks, Motorola Canada Inc. says Clement’s statement is a step in the right direction, but added that Canada still has a long way to go before it competes with Japan, Sweden and Korea, where broadband connectivity is high with fast speeds. “If Canada wants to be number one, we’ve got a long way to go. It is to do with a vision, the government, it’s part of public policy that drives companies to join the same vision. We just don’t seem to get it together like countries like Japan or Korea,” he says, noting that building the necessary broadband infrastructure would be the first step towards digital growth. “I tend to think that once the pipes are there, the content will follow and the creativity and applications follow that,” Dixon added. Lisa de Wilde, CEO of TVO, says being number one is a laudable objective, but adds work still needs to be done. “I think for Canada to be number one is an excellent objective. It remains to be seen whether we can get the funding and the political will and the collaboration needed to make it happen—I think that’s the trick,” de Wilde tells Canadian New Media. Last year, the Ontario public broadcaster embarked on a digital path of its own. In addition to working with industry to develop an action plan, Clement said the federal government is committed to laying the economic foundation for investment, through appropriate tax and fiscal policies and research investment. “It’s great that he wants to do what he wants to do. Now it will be interesting to see how can we get the investment money, how the policies can support it, and it’s a lofty goal but something which we should be working towards,” says Roberta Fox, president and senior partner, Fox Group Telecom Consulting, a technology management firm based in Mount Albert ON. Robert Atkinson, president of The Information Technology and Innovation Foundation, a Washington DC think-tank, believes Clement’s comment on making Canada the first in digital media—despite the challenges that come with it—is an impressive statement rarely heard from politicians. “You know I get so tired of listening to elected officials who don’t even want to aspire to wear their ‘you can go.’ I think having a minister like that who, number one recognizes digital transformation is important and that you want to be the leader, I think is a very important and impressive statement. Now look, the reality is that there are a lot of countries out there who want to be number one. But still it doesn’t hurt to set a goal to try to get there,” he says. At a discussion panel held after Clement’s speech, panelists identified infrastructure as a key ingredient in any digital strategy but also added that government needs to invest in broadband that appeals to customer needs both in urban and rural settings. Subsidies to industry and users, rural spectrum licensing were also identified as other options the government must examine. The Canada 3.0 conference winds up today with closing remarks from key industry leaders and CRTC chair Konrad von Finckenstein.

Industry welcomes Clement’s digital promise, but notes work still needs to be done

News | 06/09/2009 4:00 pm EDT

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