In May 2010, the federal government put out a call for submissions around Canada’s digital economy, asking for Canadians’ ideas around what a national digital strategy should include. With the help of a Taskforce comprised of leading Canadian researchers, the CFHSS submitted a brief. Since the consultation ended, the federal government has been developing a digital economy strategy.
While we won’t know the contents of that – or any – federal digital strategy until after the election, the issue has remained on the political parties’ agendas throughout the campaign so far. The Liberal’s platform includes a new tax credit for digital start ups – they also released a more detailed digital economy plan last week. The Conservatives highlight building digital infrastructure and enhancing digital skills. The NDP platform commits to prohibit usage-based billing and enshrining “net-neutrality” in law. Today, they also announced a digital plan that would ensure internet access for all Canadians.
Michael Geist provides more coverage of the issue over on his blog – read his analysis of how the party platforms compare on the digital economy. Apparently this issue isn’t going to fade – recently becoming a hotly contested issue at an all-candidates debate in Kitchener-Waterloo.