That's an excellent question.
My team just met with Shopify yesterday. It was interesting, because they are part of the solution. The more we engage and consult, and have these conversations, the more we find that every single person is part of the solution, just as every person on this committee is going to help us create those opportunities.
The innovation agenda will be quite the solution for e-commerce. We know that it is a challenge for some businesses to get online. We know that some rural and remote areas don't have full access, and that's why we need to ensure that there is a way of investing in connectivity. The connect to innovate program is an example of that. It will invest up to $500 million by 2021 to bring broadband Internet access to 300 rural and remote communities across Canada so that our SMEs, as well as communities, can grow and have those opportunities that we need them to have. That's how you create those opportunities and those jobs that were referenced earlier.
The BDC offers targeted initiatives for digital, websites, and using technologies. That's another partner we are leveraging and working closely with so that there is a solution for e-commerce, and more businesses are part of that world. We need people to be online. That's really how you can go global and consider export markets, because you don't have to be there physically but you are connected through the web.
NRC's IRAP helps businesses find other service providers, like the digital accelerators for innovation and research, and leverages Canada's investment in CANARIE and its research and education networks to provide Canada's high-tech entrepreneurs access to a free cloud. Those are programs and services that we are learning about and we know, but the right people don't know. That's why we are going to make sure that they know about those programs. We are going to communicate better and ensure that the voice of the people who know....
The office of consumer affairs offers guidance, such as the Canadian Code of Practice for Consumer Protection in Electronic Commerce—I can share that link with you as well and make sure all members have access to that information—so that you're actually thinking about the challenges, instead of having to face them once you're online. We want our businesses to be proactive instead of reactive, because when you are proactive you can achieve the growth and opportunities that we need you to achieve.