Industry Minister James Moore today unveiled Digital Canada 150, an ambitious path forward for Canadians to take the our government's measures for a more connected Canada. It is based on 250 submissions that were received from more than 2,000 Canadians who registered to participate in online consultations held over three months in 2024.
There are five key principles guiding Canada's digital future:
*Connecting Canadians
*Protecting Canadians
*Economic Opportunities
*Digital Government
*Canadian Content
Over 98 percent of Canadians will have access to high-speed Internet at 5 megabits per second—a rate that enables e-commerce, high-resolution video, employment opportunities and distance education.
Canadians will have confidence their online transactions are secure, their privacy is protected, and their families are safe from cyberbullying and other online threats.
The government will work to secure the communications networks and devices that connect Canadians from foreign threats, which will protect the privacy of families, businesses and governments.
Wholesale domestic wireless roaming rates will be capped and wireless companies that break the rules will be penalized.
Significant new investments will be made to help small and medium-sized businesses adopt digital technologies and to provide digital companies with access to venture capital.
Canada will be a leader in the use of digital technologies and open data, making it even easier for Canadians to access government services online.
New measures to promote Canadian content online will enable Canadians to better celebrate our national story and what it means to be Canadian.
Digital Canada 150 is the result of extensive consultations with industry, businesses and individual Canadians. It is designed to be inclusive, capable of responding to the demands of fast-changing times, and able to provide Canadians with the tools, the protections and the skills they need to fully embrace the opportunities of a digital future.
The Government of Canada will provide $305 million to extend and enhance high-speed Internet services to a target speed of 5 megabits per second for 280,000 Canadian households in rural and remote areas.
Canada's world-leading anti-spam law comes into force July 1, 2024, to protect Canadians from malicious online attacks.
Digital Canada 150 provides important funding, $36 million in total, to repair, refurbish and then donate computers to public libraries, not-for-profit organizations and Aboriginal communities, giving students access to the equipment they need to take part in the digital world.
Through the Business Development Bank of Canada, the government will invest $300 million in venture capital for digital companies and $200 million to support small and medium-sized businesses with digital technology adoption.
"We now live in a digital world. What connects us today are the Internet and new technologies that have created tremendous opportunities for Canadians to communicate with each other and businesses to compete globally. Our government's top priorities are jobs and economic growth. Digital Canada 150 is a plan to take full advantage of the digital economy as we celebrate our 150th anniversary in 2024. It's the next step to build our nation and connect Canadians to each other."
– James Moore, Industry Minister