Canada’s Digital Future Hangs in the Balance

As you read this post the government is making a concerted effort to permanently shape the course of our country’s digital future. Last month, at a major conference with tiered levels of access to leaders in industry and government, Industry Minister Tony Clement announced a 60-day consultation on a digital economy strategy. Narrowly framed in the language of efficiency and competition, consultation documents speak to the government’s approach to this issue: the emphasis is on “maximizing reliance on market forces,” through deregulation and protection of the “legitimate interests” of Internet service providers and other industry players.

There’s clear evidence that government only began this consultation after getting its marching orders from a series of closed-door meetings with industry.

Join OpenMedia.ca today, and help us push for digital policy that meets the needs of our communities: http://openmedia.ca/sustainer

The government’s approach, which allows for minimal public involvement in this short consultation process, demonstrates the urgent need for a citizen-centered initiative, to counter the government’s industry-oriented consultation. We need to be ready to push government hard with our own proposal, one that makes a community-centered media system a priority.

The policy being developed right now will change Canada forever. Issues on the table include media ownership, Internet openness, broadband access, cell phone rates and competition, support for Canadian culture and much more.
We’ve been here before, bringing the public voice into the political process i.e. with net neutrality, when we were able to get over 12,000 comments submitted to the CRTC through our campaign. This time the issue is more diffuse, the challenge is greater, and we need your help. Our opponents have deep pockets; help make a community-centered digital strategy a reality by becoming a sustainer of OpenMedia.ca, and supporting a truly public consultation that will bring the peoples’ voice into the policy-making choir. http://openmedia.ca/sustainer

You can also make a one time donation here: http://openmedia.ca/supporter

In the coming weeks, our goal is to find just 30 new sustainers of OpenMedia.ca. We’re a small dynamic group, and this support will go a long way to helping us carry out this crucial public engagement work.

Yours Truly,

Steve, Jacqui, Marie, Reilly, Amanda and the OpenMedia.ca network