When Canada went to the polls in May of this year, the election and subsequent cabinet shuffle delayed the release of a National Digital Strategy. Despite all of the best intentions for a Spring 2011 release of the federal strategy, it was to be expected that the new Industry Minister would seek to put his imprimatur on a piece that largely falls under his mandate together with his colleagues, the Ministers for Heritage and Human Resources. After all, telecommunications and the Telecom Act are within the purview of Minister Paradis.
Still, consider that many of the areas most commonly assumed to be part of a digital strategy actually fall under provincial responsibility: education, health care, social safety nets. There are a number of provinces facing elections this fall – perhaps providing incentives for provincial parties to turn their minds to progressive election agendas.
Canada’s largest province, Ontario will have an election on October 6. We will be watching the platforms of the major parties (Liberal, Conservative and NDP). Manitoba’s provincial elections are two days earlier (October 4); PEI residents are voting October 3; Newfoundland and Labrador voters go to the polls October 11; Saskatchewan’s provincial elections are a month later (November 7).
Will the federal government stay on the sidelines with the release of its national digital strategy in order to avoid conflicts with Ontario provincial election? Will any of Canada’s provinces scoop the federal government with the release of a comprehensive digital strategy?