What does the budget hold for us in the communications and information technology sector?
On rural broadband:
Canada was one of the first countries to implement a connectivity agenda geared toward facilitating Internet access to all of its citizens. To this day, Canada remains one of the most connected nations in the world, with the highest broadband connection rate among the G7 countries. However, gaps in access to broadband remain, particularly in rural and remote communities.
The Government is committed to closing the broadband gap in Canada by encouraging the private development of rural broadband infrastructure.
Budget 2009 provides $225 million over three years to Industry Canada to develop and implement a strategy on extending broadband coverage to all currently unserved communities beginning in 2009–10.
We need to look beyond the funds that will be spent over the next 3 years on extending broadband in unserved parts of the country. I noticed that Michael Geist compares that sum to the AU$4.7B that Australia is committing. Of course, we need to consider that Australia lags Canada’s penetration rates by 2-3 years, demonstrating that our broadband industry has been able to a far better job of providing service without reliance on government.
On the Canada Health Infoway:
Budget 2009 provides Canada Health Infoway with $500 million to support the goal of having 50 per cent of Canadians with an electronic health record by 2010. In addition, this funding will be used to speed up the implementation of electronic medical record systems for physicians and integrated points of service for hospitals, pharmacies, community care facilities and patients. An electronic medical record system allows doctors and other health care providers to chart patient health information using a computer, thereby avoiding duplication of testing and helping to ensure patient safety and effective treatment.
This appears to be a positive for TELUS’ investment in Emergis and its focus on health sector solutions.
On the Canada Foundation for Innovation
In order to accelerate investments in leading-edge facilities and equipment, Budget 2009 provides $150 million to increase the funding available for meritorious projects in the 2009 Leading Edge and New Initiatives Funds Competition.
In addition, Budget 2009 provides $600 million for future activities of the Foundation, including the launch of one or more new competitions by December 2010 in support of areas of priority identified by the Minister of Industry in consultation with the Canada Foundation for Innovation, and guided by the Foundation’s strategic plan.
What will it take for telecommunications to be defined as an “area of priority”.
The Waterloo area benefits from $50M toward the Institute for Quantum Computing. Favourable tax treatment for investments in new computers and software. This can also serve as a stimulus for increased network demand from the business sector.
My thanks to Brian G for helping find the appropriate excerpts from the budget documents.
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