Driving economic recovery together: infrastructure is the key to strong communities
As we consider our future in a post-pandemic world, and with a new federal budget, it is a good time to reflect on how we can continue to build strong, resilient local communities. Municipalities touch the lives of Canadians everyday, and as Canada recovers from the pandemic, this is the moment to learn from the […]
Digital infrastructure and broadband connectivity are vital for meeting emission objectives
As president of the Saskatchewan Association of Rural Municipalities (SARM), I welcome the opportunity to reflect on the recent announcement made by the federal government regarding their Emissions Reduction Plan (ERP) and to highlight the digital divide between rural and urban municipalities that needs to be addressed. SARM is an independent association that […]
Scrap the overbuild policy to boost broadband infrastructure
Many will read this op-ed using a wireless device. Most Canadians don’t realize how much of a luxury that is. While it is laudable that the government has repeatedly committed to improving broadband access for rural and remote communities, many federal policies continue to frustrate this goal. For this reason, we have repeatedly raised the […]
Time to capitalize on Canada’s big AI advantage
Canada is a global leader in artificial intelligence because of decades of work by world-class luminaries at universities and government labs. Small- and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) have worked hard to further AI research and development. I successfully exited two AI startups in Canada and hold 48 patents in AI related to messaging and security. My […]
Price decline shows Canadian wireless on the right track
Recent headlines have been filled with news of the rising cost of housing, food, gas, and most other consumer items. So, it may have come as a surprise to some when Minister of Innovation, Science, and Industry François-Philippe Champagne, recently announced that the price of mid-level mobile wireless plans have decreased by 25 per cent […]
Dis-connecting families: feds must expand program so all low-income people get internet access
The pandemic laid bare many of the inequities that persist in our systems. One issue that came to the fore was our need for the internet like never before. Every individual was forced to get on to the world wide web for anything and everything. Even eviction hearings moved online with extreme consequences for low-and-moderate […]
Ottawa’s 5G policy a stress test for Canada-China relations
As the Trudeau government has sworn in its newest cabinet, a decision on Huawei’s involvement in Canada’s 5G network appears to be the next major policy decision to stress relations with China. Industry Minister François-Philippe Champagne hinted as much, stating that an announcement from his department is on the horizon with national security considerations to […]
Canada’s future depends on connectivity
As Canada begins to emerge from the third, and hopefully last, wave of the COVID-19 pandemic, there are many lessons that have been learned over the past year and half. Among these lessons, the pandemic has fostered a greater appreciation for the fixed and wireless broadband networks that allowed Canadians to stay connected, conduct business, […]
The CRTC has abandoned its mandate, and it’s hurting Canadians
The CRTC has let Canadians down. At a time when internet access is so critically important, the CRTC has inexplicably chosen to overturn its own 2019 ruling that would have lowered rates for consumers across Canada. At Distributel, we work hard to build the innovative services Canadians want at the affordable prices they need. We […]
Canada needs academic, industry collaboration to fix the internet, not rushed legislation
The Trudeau government is learning how difficult governing the information environment can be. Bill C-10, a move to amend the Broadcasting Act to include online content, has confused everyone, including a former chairperson of the Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission. With no clear indication of whether or not the amendment will apply to everyone with […]
