Rural residents deserve a better approach to broadband infrastructure
Autumn is a college student whose family lives in a rural area in Northwest B.C. COVID-19 means she is now taking her classes from home, using a slow, unreliable internet connection. Midway through one of her online exams, her internet died altogether. She couldn’t finish the exam and was barely given a passing grade for […]
Creating opportunity in the pandemic recovery through digital infrastructure
The COVID-19 pandemic has brought about major change for a vast majority of knowledge workers. COVID has accelerated the underlying technological transformations shaping how Canadians work, and emphasized the inequalities across regions in our ability to access digital infrastructure. Increased reliance on digital connections has also increased the risk to cyber attacks. Successfully addressing this […]
Investing in 5G is key to reducing Canada’s carbon footprint
While Canadians remain focused on the challenges of COVID-19, we must not forget the formidable threat of climate change. Without meaningful action, climate change is expected to cause significant, long-term, and potentially irreversible damage to the environment, the economy, and our way of life. While Canada has made progress toward achieving its climate-action goals, meeting […]
It’s time to bridge our country’s great digital divide
If you’re of a certain age, chances are you’ll never forget the screeching symphony of sounds your computer once had to perform just to get online. Today, dial-up internet is a relic of the 90s for most—something many reminisce and chuckle about. However, for many rural Canadians, particularly farmers, lack of broadband internet is still […]
The internet: where ‘globalist’ is an insult
KAMOURASKA, QUE.—Last week, I wrote about the internet and its failings. While I am loath to be like the old man in the bar who prattles on and says, “And another thing!” I thought I would expand on this troublesome topic. I mentioned I had interviewed a man in Leduc, Alta., who is campaigning […]
Contact-tracing app faces big technological problems in urban environments, studies say
A pair of research studies from June suggest there could be serious flaws in the COVID-19 exposure notification app promoted by Canada’s federal government. COVID Alert has been out for nearly one month and has been downloaded by some two million Canadians, according to a spokesperson for the Canadian Digital Service. The app, which is based […]
Acceleration of digital economy is central to Canada’s future
The COVID-19 pandemic has caused financial hardship for nations around the world, and despite quick actions by all orders of government to assist businesses, families, and individuals, Canada is no exception. Our economy is in recession, unemployment rates have touched record highs, and the federal government’s finances are under such strain that the national public […]
Geopolitics, not national security, to be guiding factor in Huawei decision, say experts
As Canada is stuck between two feuding superpowers, its looming decision on whether to grant Huawei access to provide Canadian 5G equipment is no longer a decision that can be made chiefly based on domestic interests, say experts. The Canadian government is expected to restrict Huawei from its 5G network, as the U.S. has placed […]
Liberal actions are eroding the special Canada-U.S. relationship
The relationship between Canada and the United States has been one of the closest the world has ever known. From fighting side-by-side on the European front, to forming NATO, to NORAD, to creating the largest free-trade zone in the world via NAFTA, the integrated nature of the relationship is incomparable anywhere in the world. However, […]
Boost of federal support needed for better cross-Canada internet connectivity
At the end of April, the House of Commons held its first-ever and historical virtual Parliament through the all-Member of Parliament Special Committee on the COVID-19 Pandemic. The session used video conferencing, just like thousands of Canadians have been doing over the past few weeks to connect with family and friends, to access online education […]
