The failure to set out a coherent National Digital Strategy is contributing to confusion over how pieces are supposed to fit together.
We have seen the government make various spending announcements, tinker with R&D initiatives, introduce modernized copyright legislation and enhanced digital surveillance powers – all without a clear target in sight. Yesterday’s release of the “Protecting Children from Internet Predators Act” did not mention “National Digital Strategy” despite its impact on telecommunications services providers?
As I have written before, the strategy should have been released first.
Privacy, modernized copyright, support for increased R&D, digital law enforcement investigative powers and more are all important parts of our government’s strategy. But let’s face it, the strategy itself must be at least as important. Otherwise, how important can these piece parts be?
In the absence of a road map to a prescribed destination, shouldn’t we at least get a clear statement about the direction toward which we are heading?
I’ll add communications competition and foreign investment to the list of issues that should flow from a coherent strategy.
What about digital literacy and business transformation?
The national digital strategy is yet another file opened nearly 2 years ago with much fanfare – a cross-ministerial initiative to consider a broad national digital strategy – and never completed.
Would it have been easier for the government to win support for its initiatives if there had first been a road map set out?
How does this government want to lead Canada in a fast paced global Digital Economy?