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Over the past several weeks (maybe a month now) I've been banging a drum about how Canada has receded from the economic forefront over the past 50 years. My reasons are motivated by a strategic argument I've been engaging in (alone, mostly). Still, the core of the argument is that Canada's economic decay (as a power), including productivity declines and dollar exchange values, our standing in the G5, no the G7, no the G8, well OK we're still above 15 . . ., has roots in lack of change, development, and innovation in keeping with the 21st-century. One example I've been using is that the implementation of an "electronic railroad" to be supported by the government as a function of nation building (or re-building) is required because it's essential for economic development and productivity enhancement across the board, but especially in the vital small and mid-sized business sectors. I've posited that there has been a market failure in achieving this state because (and here's where the stories come in) the government tried to create "broadband for everyone" but chose to back off in favour of the free market providing a solution. Of course that didn't happen because the free market only operates where there is likely chance of direct -- not societal/nationa -- profit and payback.
So, last week we saw Bank of Canada governor David Dodge weigh in with comments about regaining productivity by accepting and adopting new business processes and technologies (and investing in skills). Now, today, the Globe & Mail is carrying a story about the renewed interest at the federal government level in the "Internet for Everybody" infrastructure program. (Story here: Rural, remote high-speed Internet back on front burner.) Here's para no. 2:
The three-person telecom review panel, to be unveiled as soon as this week, will be asked to assess whether governments should again pursue the goal of providing high-speed access to rural communities, how it should be done, and how much it would cost, government and industry sources said on Friday.Apparently we're just a little to much ahead of the wave to surf it profitably. But, we're ahead. Watch this space. [gloat, gloat, gloat]
Puts a bit of a crimp into my master plan (for why I was banging the drum in the first place), but we're all about shifting gears here in the state of recursion.
Posted by Grayson at April 4, 2005 07:35 AM