CANADA – Increasingly, the players of today and tomorrow’s economies will be those countries that can outpace their rivals in the fields of innovation and technological development. That is where Canada must focus its energies, said the Canadian Chamber of Commerce during a press conference on that subject at Ryerson University’s DMZ, a business incubator that currently boasts 450 innovators in 84 start-ups.
The Canadian Chamber is asking federal parties to reveal their plans to foster a more digitally-driven economy. Access to technology and innovation is essential to grow the economy and improve Canada’s competitiveness.
“We work on many files at the Canadian Chamber of Commerce, but we have one real priority: Canada’s competitiveness,” explained the Hon. Perrin Beatty, President and CEO of the Canadian Chamber of Commerce. “It is essential that innovative start-ups and growing businesses have access to the digital infrastructure they need to develop the solutions, apps and software of tomorrow,” he said.
“We’re already doing well: 98% of Canadians have access to high speed networks and wireless broadband services. This is impressive in a country of almost 10 million square kilometres. But the future is data driven. Big data and the internet of things will increasingly drive demand for faster networks with higher capacity. The speed and bandwidth of our digital infrastructure is increasingly a factor for global companies when making investment decisions,” said Mr. Beatty.
This is especially important in areas where technology companies play such an important role.
“When I see all of the activity that takes place in business incubators and hubs like this, I am reminded that our economy is shifting. As much as we continue to need highways and ports, we also need high-speed internet access and the hardware to get our digital products to markets. We look forward to seeing what the political parties have to propose,” said Mr. Beatty.
– About the Canadian Chamber of Commerce The Canadian Chamber of Commerce is the vital connection between business and the federal government. It helps shape public policy and decision-making to the benefit of businesses, communities and families across Canada with a network of over 450 chambers of commerce and boards of trade, representing 200,000 businesses of all sizes in all sectors of the economy and in all regions. News and information are available at www.Chamber.ca or follow us on Twitter @CdnChamberofCom.