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Is the Digital Economy Strategy Dead?

Industry Minister Christian Paradis gave a speech today at the Wireless Canada Technology Showcase. The talk included references to forthcoming copyright reform, the reintroduction of privacy reforms (formerly Bill C-29), and plans to move forward with spectrum auctions. It also talks about the importance of the digital economy and digital skills.  Yet what it does not reference is the long-awaited digital economy strategy. With the change in ministers, have plans to release a national digital economy strategy changed too?  The omission from a major speech suggests that the DES may be dead.

7 Comments

  1. How progressive 0_o

  2. RE: Crockett
    Since are they *Progressive* Conservatives? đŸ˜›


  3. What exactly is a “digital economy”?

    Nap.


  4. No takers? Ok, here’s my short list of the main ways to make good money out of 0s and 1s flogged over the Internet:

    – advertising
    – collection and sale of personal information
    – porn
    – gambling
    – fraud (from spam to phishing)

    Which one would you like to see nurtured by our government?

    Nap.

  5. “A Digital Economy Strategy that enhances digital infrastructure and encourages Canadian businesses to adopt digital technologies and provide digital-skills training for their employees and new hires.” – Speech from the Throne

    In order to achieve a much more productive and efficient economy we are supposed to get our shit together in these areas. Our current productivity growth is embarrassing and getting digital is shown to have the greatest return on investment. Geist is commenting on the lack of follow through on these commitments.

    Thanks for the insight provided by your short list though, Nap đŸ™‚

  6. Also see the Australian DES, in response to your initial question.

    “The digital economy is the global network of economic and social activities that are enabled by information and communications technologies, such as the internet, mobile and sensor networks.

    The digital economy comprises the computers, phones, game consoles and devices most of us use each day. It is the ability to start up a web browser and search for a local restaurant, to send a text message to your friend or to use a navigational device in your car. The digital economy includes paying for goods with your debit or credit card at the store, or when your doctor receives your pathology results electronically.

    Through participating in the digital economy Australia can boost its productivity, global competitiveness and social well-being.”

  7. DES has already launched
    The DES was launched in the 2011 federal budget, chapter 4.3