Lindsay Chavez
Winner: Innovation Path
Although Canada’s digital environment is robust in certain urban areas, it remains uneven and spotty throughout its diverse regions. Disenfranchised groups oftentimes have limited or unaffordable internet connectivity, especially in rural or isolated areas. This disparity limits access to vital digital services, such as telemedicine and e-governmental platforms, in addition to affecting people’s ability to work from home or pursue an online education. Adequate internet access is a basic extension of human rights in the modern era and not a luxury.
An important problem that goes beyond internet connectivity is data sovereignty. The majority of Canadians’ data is stored or transmitted through the United States, despite the country’s own data privacy laws. It may be possible for American authorities to have extensive access to this data through the US legal system, which includes laws like the USA PATRIOT Act. Minority groups are at a greater risk, as their personal data may be subject to scrutiny or misuse as a result. Canadians need further assurances that their information will be secured under domestic legal frameworks at a time when increasingly aggressive data gathering policies are endangering online anonymity.
This proposal is aimed at federal lawmakers and regulators who have the authority to create and implement digital policy, particularly those in Innovation, Science and Economic Development (ISED) Canada. To ensure that policy solutions take into account the various geographic and socioeconomic circumstances of each region, the government agencies at the provincial and territorial levels are important in the implementation and financing of digital initiatives.
A new, comprehensive strategy should be pursued to handle these interconnected issues of data sovereignty and internet access. The policy would first formally establish national internet connectivity requirements. The government would provide targeted subsidies and infrastructure investments for rural broadband by utilizing partnerships at the federal and
provincial levels. In order to ensure that these investments result in dependable, fast connections, this strategy would combine performance-based benchmarks with subsidies for ISPs who commit to constructing networks in marginalized areas.
Second, the policy would require that personal information belonging to Canadian people or residents be kept on servers that are physically located in Canada or in jurisdictions that meet or surpass Canadian privacy requirements in order to safeguard Canadians’ data rights. This requirement would provide a clear legal framework to protect sensitive information and be consistent with other countries’ current explanations of data localization. Additionally, the regulation would uphold the right to repair, guaranteeing that small firms and people can restore electronic items without hindrances from manufacturers. Such legislation would prolong the life of vital technologies and help lower-income Canadians stay connected by lowering the cost of maintenance for both personal and public devices.
Finally, strong oversight procedures would be covered by the new policy. It would be possible to create a dedicated government digital ombudsperson to handle complaints, carry out audits, and suggest improvements to stay up to current standards with rapidly changing technology. In order to maintain objectivity and accountability, this position would be separate from internet service providers and device makers.
When combined, these actions would close significant gaps in Canada’s digital infrastructure. They would strengthen national sovereignty over people’s data, broaden the definition of human rights to include meaningful online access, and protect vulnerable and low-income populations from the growing expenses of device maintenance. These regulations are an important step towards a digital future that is inclusive for all Canadians in a world where civic engagement is increasingly defined by digital connectedness.
References
CRTC. (2020). Broadband availability in Canada [Communications Monitoring Report]. https://crtc.gc.ca/eng/publications/reports/policymonitoring/2020/cmr5.htm
Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada. (2021). Connecting Families Program: Annual Report. https://ised-isde.canada.ca/site/connecting-families/en
OpenMedia. (2020) Digital Divide Report: Accessibility in Canada’s rural and remote communities. https://openmedia.org/
Statistics Canada. (2020) Internet access in Canada: Trends and disparities. https://www150.statcan.gc.ca/n1/daily-quotidien/210531/dq210531d-eng.htm