The Liberals committed themselves in their Throne Speech to making Canada world-renowned as the government most connected to its citizens, and their 2000 Budget designated $80 million annually in 2000/01 and 2001/02 to “design and launch an initiative to offer federal government services on-line to Canadians and stimulate the use of electronic commerce” ( "A Stealth Budget for the Internet Economy": PriceWaterhouseCoopers). PriceWaterhouseCoopers sees the Liberal budget as a positive message for Canadian e-commerce and technology, commenting that “Ensuring that Canada is a leader in the new economy is a recurring theme in the parts of the budget that address post secondary education and research and development. The government committed, once again, to ‘build the economy based on innovation’”. Among other research and development measures, the Federal Budget announced that $900 million would be used to establish and sustain 2000 Canada Research Chairs, definitely good news for research funding across the country.

The Liberal position on technology is succinctly stated in their published economic policy. "Liberals believe that Canada needs to do more to build the new economy than simply cut taxes. The federal government must remain actively involved in promoting and developing new technologies, because: Many promising technologies will not grow fully without government help. And unless the federal government supports Canadian opportunities, people will leave this country in search of better jobs”("Sharing Opportunity in the New Economy": October 27, 2000).

The e-commerce strategies they’ve already implemented showcase the Liberal commitment to technology.  They have, for instance, already done a great deal to improve Canadian’s access to the internet and encourage the growth of e-commerce, such as connecting all Canadian schools and public libraries to the Internet; setting up public-access points in communities across Canada, setting standards that protect privacy on the Internet, and providing government information and services on-line.

They’ve also introduced the Canadian Electronic Commerce Strategy, an attempt to create a “friendly” environment for e-commerce. The Strategy includes legislation protecting personal information in the private sector, guidelines for consumer protection, a legal framework for digital signatures and electronic records, the establishment of e-commerce standards, a policy on cryptography, a policy framework for the Government of Canada's public key infrastructure, and a “technology neutral taxation regime”. ( "Electronic Commerce - Canada's Role in the New Economy": April 2000).

You can read more about the Canadian Electronic Commerce Strategy at a host of government Web sites. (The Liberal government has done a great job of getting government information online.)

Whatever you think of their other policies, the Liberals are the hands-down frontrunner when it comes to developing e-commerce related policies, and have made good progress in delivering on their promise to make the net accessible for all Canadians. Most recently, (October 16^th), John Manley, Minister of Industry, announced the establishment of a National Broadband Task Force to examine how high-speed broadband Internet services can best be made available to businesses and residents in all Canadian communities by 2004 ( “Government of Canada Announces Commitment to Bringing High-speed Broadband Internet Services to all Canadian Communities”). On the same date, Minister Manley announced the creation of a National Research Council E-Commerce Institute at the University of New Brunswick campus in Fredericton (“Minister Manley Gives Green Light for NRC E-Commerce Institute”).

This election isn’t about e-commerce. A great many people feel that issues such as our collapsing health care system are more important, and who can blame them? But e-commerce and Internet-related technologies are important. As an individual, it’s important that you’re able to access the Internet no matter where you live, and can get information and conduct business online if you want to, securely and easily. As a business owner, you need to be able to do these things and have the opportunity to realize the net’s full potential, integrating your businesses processes and becoming a true member of the global community.

Your chosen party’s e-commerce and technology-related policies deserve to be considered when you’re thinking about Canada’s future. Is your preferred candidate prepared to kiss the e-commerce baby? Or does she or he even know that it exists?

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