Thank you so much, Chair. My first question is for a fellow Manitoban, Connie Newman.
Thank you so much for your testimony so far. It's so nice to have you in committee today.
My first question relates to public ownership. I'm wondering if you feel that Wi-Fi should be a publicly owned utility, something that's deemed as essential for everyone as water, for example, as a public utility.
I ask that because you spoke a lot about Wi-Fi and the fact that many seniors don't have access to Wi-Fi. Actually, I wanted to mention article 27 of the UN Universal Declaration of Human Rights, which states, “Everyone has the right freely to participate in the cultural life of the community, to enjoy the arts and to share in scientific advancement and its benefits.”
One of the concerns I've had in Winnipeg Centre for many seniors is that because they can't afford the Internet, they've been very isolated as a result of not having access, even if they have the skills and know how to use computers and iPhones. Do you feel it should be a public utility?