Thank you, Mr. Chair and members of the committee. My name is Jay Thomson. I'm the CEO of the Canadian Communication Systems Alliance. I'd like to thank all of the members of the committee for inviting me here to Saint John today to present our recommendations.
While I'm based in Ottawa, actually in Wakefield, our head office is very close to here in nearby Quispamsis. CCSA represents more than 110 independent companies that provide Internet, television and telephone services across Canada. Our members serve hundreds of thousands of Canadians in communities generally outside urban markets all across the country. In rural areas, CCSA members are sometimes the only source of essential communication services.
I come today with three recommendations that our members believe would support Canada's commitment to growing the economy, job creation and broad-based prosperity.
Our message today is essentially the same as it was when we appeared before your committee last year. In today's connected world, continued development of our broadband infrastructure is crucial to Canada's global competitiveness and economic success. Therefore, Canada's fiscal policy should support the government's objective of extending broadband service to all Canadians.
To that end, first, we ask that the Canadian government increase its investments in the country's broadband infrastructure. CCSA is pleased that the government has made important progress in this respect with the connect to innovate program, but more investments are needed. We recommend that the government continue to work with our members to identify where broadband investment can have the greatest positive impact on the lives of Canadians.
Second, we ask that the government, in making its fiscal policies, recognize the vital role that local entrepreneurs with existing networks and expertise can play in achieving Canada's broadband goals. By directing funding for locally based companies, the government can more efficiently extend broadband capabilities and increase the potential for economic growth and diversification, creating jobs and other opportunities. That's because smaller, locally based companies really know how to stretch a dollar to serve their communities.
Third, we caution the government against creating any avenue for Internet service providers to be taxed to support the production of Canadian television programming, as some parties seek. We believe that any new tax aimed at the providers of broadband services would be harmful to the government's objective of spurring economic prosperity by extending broadband services to parts of the country that currently are underserved. We, therefore. urge the government to not impose any new taxes on Internet service providers in Canada.
In conclusion, we believe that the Canadian government is well on its way to continuously growing the economy through ensuring that all Canadians regardless of where they live have access to critical broadband connectivity so that they may share in the benefits of the digital economy. By increasing investments in broadband, funding directly to locally based providers and not adding any more tax burden on those companies, the government will be able to achieve its goals more efficiently and quickly.
The CCSA and our members look forward to continuing to work with the finance committee and the government in ensuring that policies developed help grow the Canadian economy. Thank you once again for the time and I look forward to your questions.