Evidence of meeting #60 for Industry, Science and Technology in the 41st Parliament, 1st Session. (The original version is on Parliament’s site, as are the minutes.) The winning word was connectivity.
A recording is available from Parliament.
4:25 p.m.
Director, Intellectual Property and Innovation Policy, Canadian Chamber of Commerce
I'm not sure that I really even need to answer that one.
4:25 p.m.
Conservative
4:25 p.m.
Director, Intellectual Property and Innovation Policy, Canadian Chamber of Commerce
I don't think the chamber would be in favour of a 30% tax increase.
4:25 p.m.
Conservative
Mike Lake Conservative Edmonton—Mill Woods—Beaumont, AB
Thank you, and what about the $21-billion carbon tax, just out of curiosity? It is on page 4 of that document, so it's not like it's fiction: it's $21 billion.
Actually, I won't even make you answer that one. Cheryl will take the rest of the time in this round.
4:25 p.m.
Conservative
Cheryl Gallant Conservative Renfrew—Nipissing—Pembroke, ON
Thank you, Mr. Chairman.
To our witness today, mention was made that you felt the government should be helping out in these rural areas where the business case does not necessarily exist to have the Internet corporations wanting to provide the coverage.
I just would like to mention that in May of 2012, we did roll out strengthening access to rural broadband, which was part of the stimulus phase of Canada's economic action plan. An amount of $225 million was provided to Industry Canada, over three years, to develop and implement a strategy to extend broadband coverage to as many underserviced households as possible.
The biggest component of the strategy was Broadband Canada: Connecting Rural Canadians. That's already helped provide broadband access to over 210,000 additional households.
What's especially important about this is that approximately $170 million went into eastern Ontario, where the biggest broadband gap exists. Even once it's fully implemented, it's estimated that no matter what, maximum 95%, with the combination of wire and wireless and every other technology that exists to connect people, that will be maxed out.
My concern is what you had mentioned about the government forcing businesses to use Internet access. To a certain extent they have. I know they have, because I hear the concerns of people who don't have connectivity and are worried about having to submit their GST remittances online, or the companies that are fortunate enough to have over $2 million in revenues but have to put their source deductions online every month. If they have no fast-paced high-speed Internet, by the time they use a telephone line and try to download a form, the form gets corrupted many times over. They're told to take it to their library and do their books there, but that doesn't work either.
So I just want to caution you that what may be good in larger centres like this may not be okay in the smaller areas, where they are really trying to adapt to technology. Even in this room, I haven't been able to get connectivity—on the cellphone it's no problem, but on the iPad, with the same carrier, there's nothing.
So it's not perfect, and to put that kind of pressure on small business across the board might be a little early.
4:30 p.m.
Director, Intellectual Property and Innovation Policy, Canadian Chamber of Commerce
Just to clarify my comments, my suggestion was that government make all services available online, not necessarily force business to use those services. For those who want it, it's there; for those who can't or won't, there are still alternatives.
4:30 p.m.
Conservative
Cheryl Gallant Conservative Renfrew—Nipissing—Pembroke, ON
In addition to what we've already done in terms of the strategy and putting the money in, is there anything else that government can be doing to ensure that our country is the best connected in the world?
4:30 p.m.
Director, Intellectual Property and Innovation Policy, Canadian Chamber of Commerce
It could provide additional incentives for those rural communities, and work with the telecom companies to build those networks.
4:30 p.m.
Conservative
The Chair Conservative David Sweet
Thank you, Mr. Smith.
It's 4:30 now, and I need to seek the guidance of the committee. There are two people left on the speakers list, and we've also had a request for a business meeting of 10 minutes afterwards.
I need some direction from the committee.
Mr. Warawa.
March 7th, 2013 / 4:30 p.m.
Conservative
Mark Warawa Conservative Langley, BC
Chair, I ran my schedule based on the one you provided us with. If we want to discuss informally what the future agenda will look like, that's fine, but at this point I would move that we adjourn.
4:30 p.m.
Conservative
The Chair Conservative David Sweet
That's a dilatory motion, the move to adjourn, so I have to go immediately—
4:30 p.m.
Conservative
The Chair Conservative David Sweet
I have to go immediately to a vote.
All in favour of adjourning? Opposed?
(Motion agreed to)
4:30 p.m.
Conservative
4:30 p.m.
Liberal
Geoff Regan Liberal Halifax West, NS
No, no, I know.
I propose that we agree unanimously not to have any motions that are problematic.
4:30 p.m.
An hon. member
We'll just talk.
4:30 p.m.
Conservative
The Chair Conservative David Sweet
Mr. Smith, thank you very much. We appreciate your input.
The meeting is adjourned.