Resolutions to keep in 2005 for prosperous e-business ventures in Canada: Governments

During the closing speech of the national conference e-commerce to e-economy: Strategies for the 21 st Century, Mr. Charles Sirois (Telesystems) had this to say:

When I heard this forceful call for action, I leapt from my chair to give Mr. Sirois a standing ovation… only to notice that his words seemed to amuse the large audience rather than to wake them up to a poignant reality. The truth is that although Canada ’s technological infrastructure is extremely well developed, consumers and businesses lag far behind in adopting e-business. Therefore, here are a few resolutions, which, if adopted by governments, could drastically contribute to fostering the growth of e-commerce in Canada :

1- Promote the adoption of e-commerce among businesses:

• By stimulating the exchange of e-commerce knowledge (reverse Industry Canada and MDERR’s withdrawal from this field of activity);
• By promoting the adoption of efficient strategies, business models and e-marketing techniques: implement pertinent ICT and financial resources;
• By financing and sponsoring entrepreneurs engaged in the new economy, as Mr. Sirois is successfully doing in Africa with Enablis .

2- Incite Canadian banks (subject to the Bank Act) to implement mechanisms for online debit and micropayments as quickly as possible.

By this I do not mean e-mail money transfers like those laborious procedures offered by Certapay. I’m talking about a mechanism that would enable merchants to cash consumers’ debit payments immediately, just as they do in stores. Facts show that Canadians use debit cards very frequently: 85% of cardholders use debit cards to make purchases in stores at a rate that is one of the highest in the world. It’s about time that this Canadian model found its counterpart in our virtual world.

3- Facilitate the harmonization of federal and provincial economic e-business statistics and establish new national statistics specifically related to the Internet. de ce secteur.

While Statistics Canada recognizes 19 economic sectors, the Institut de la Statistique du Québec counts only five. Lacking coherent measuring instruments, it is difficult to understand where the failures and successes exist on a local level and to accurately realign the aim of governmental policies. In fact, the statistics offered by our institutions measure economic indicators only. Yet the Internet bears statistics that are unique in its kind. Perhaps it is time for our government agencies to turn their attention towards the web and to measure, both quantitatively and qualitatively, the efficiency of our online presence with specially adapted statistical tools.

4- Assist industries that are very active online yet whose Canadian businesses are lagging behind: Tourism Industry

While preparing a presentation for an association operating in the tourism industry, we were astonished to note that 25% of Canadian households use the Internet to research and book travel. Yet, paradoxically, the hotel and restaurant economic sector in Canada ranks only 15 out of 19 in terms of operating commercial web sites. This situation has spawned an industry of primarily US intermediaries that are draining our tourism revenue and suffocating our tourism SME’s as they funnel Canadian dollars south of the border. There is no doubt that we should give this sector the means to regain control and to adopt electronic business.

5- Assist industries that are very active online yet whose Canadian businesses are lagging behind: Service Industry

The Canadian economy is composed mainly of service companies and there can be no denying that the Internet facilitates international commercial service exchanges. Yet unlike manufacturing companies, firms in the service industry unfortunately face great obstacles when it comes to finding financing or being eligible for governmental programs and assistance that would enable them to grow to their full capacity. We recommend that governments allow this type of company to achieve their full potential.

Other resolutions to keep in 2005 for prosperous e-business ventures in Canada:

Businesses

Consumers

Government and Citizens

Sources:

Interac: http://www.interac.org/en_n2_32_res...

Doubleclick, Greenfield online.

“Role of the Internet in the Vacation travel of North Americans,” Secor, 2002.