Canada can’t afford not to invest in digital economy, new Chamber report finds
(Greater Sudbury, July 19, 2017) The Greater Sudbury Chamber of Commerce, in partnership with the Canadian Chamber of Commerce, has released a report warning that businesses and communities in Canada’s rural and northern regions will be unable to reach their full potential without infrastructure investments, and especially digital infrastructure.
“Coverage gaps in Canada’s rural and northern areas result in lost productivity and stifle innovation. Other major economies are looking at advanced network technology and the business opportunities that lie therein. We can’t afford not to invest in a more inclusive and competitive digital economy,” said Perrin Beatty, President and CEO of the Canadian Chamber of Commerce.
The chamber’s report, titled “Positioning Canada to Excel in the Information Age”, examines the challenges facing Canadian companies in a rapidly changing digital economy and makes recommendations to improve access and advancements throughout the country.
“Lack of digital and other infrastructure continues to be a barrier to growth for many of Northern Ontario’s communities,” said Michael Macnamara, Chair, Greater Sudbury Chamber of Commerce. “Government must prioritize infrastructure investments to keep businesses connected and make sure they can be at the forefront of innovation.”
The Greater Sudbury Chamber of Commerce is also calling on the federal government to support continued investments in highway infrastructure and to commit to investments alongside the provincial government to develop infrastructure that will support the Ring of Fire. The chamber has long advocated that such investments are critical in developing a northern economy.
Positioning Canada to excel in the Information Age is part of a larger report, “Stuck in Traffic for 10,000 Years: Canadian Problems That Infrastructure Investment can solve”, outlining several infrastructure challenges that government must target to place Canada on a more equal playing field.
Read the full report here.
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For more information, please contact:
Bryan Heystee
Policy and Communications Manager
Greater Sudbury Chamber of Commerce
705-673-7133 ext. 224
705-677-5735 (cell)
[email protected]
www.sudburychamber.ca
The Greater Sudbury Chamber of Commerce is a non-profit organization that represents 850 businesses and through the participation of its member volunteers on committees and task forces, it works ‘as the Voice of Business’ to influence federal, provincial and local legislation affecting business.
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 Chamber.ca or follow us on Twitter @CdnChamberofCom.