“Our Government supports commemorating important milestones in Canadian history, such as the Diamond Jubilee,” said Minister Moore. “Part of commemorating such a special anniversary involves trying to reach new audiences, including young Canadians. These new applications will provide an opportunity to encourage Canadian youth to participate in this celebration of our country’s traditions, history, and institutions, and encourage all Canadians to learn more about the role of the Crown in Canada.”

The new Crown in Canada iPhone application and mobile site will be a source of information on the Government of Canada’s plans for celebrating The Queen’s Diamond Jubilee, including details on the Diamond Jubilee Medal program and key dates for celebrating the 60^th anniversary of Her Majesty’s accession to the throne.

“Safer Internet Day serves as an important reminder to all Canadians that we all have a role to play when it comes to staying safe in an online world.

Through the National Strategy for the Protection of Children from Sexual Exploitation on the Internet, the Government works to enhance the tools required for prevention, investigation and prosecution of those who prey on children online. We will continue to address this serious crime through the RCMP’s National Child Exploitation Coordination Centre and our valued partners such as the Canadian Centre for Child Protection.

Combatting online sexual exploitation is part of the Government’s efforts to make the Internet a safer place. That commitment also includes protecting Canadians and our digital infrastructure from cyber threats, as reflected in Canada’s Cyber Security Strategy. “Get Cyber Safe”, our national public awareness campaign, is a key component of the Strategy. The campaign website, GetCyberSafe.ca, helps Canadians understand the cyber threats they face online and the simple, straightforward steps they can take to minimize these risks. We all benefit from being safer online.”

Canada is proud to be part of Safer Internet Day 2012, an international effort, which draws attention to the need for individuals, families, and the public and private sectors to be aware of the risks and to use the tools and resources available to help them stay safe online.

The $1.26 billion in production activity accounted for almost 30,000 full-time direct and spin-off jobs. The increase was led by domestic spending which accounted for $852.1 million in total, a 32% increase over 2010′s figure of $646.2 million. Foreign spending was also up contributing $412.9 million total – a 30% increase over the previous year’s $318.1 million.

“The McGuinty government celebrates the success of Ontario’s creative industries as we are committed to creating jobs and a stronger economy,” stated Michael Chan, Minister of Tourism, Culture and Sport for Ontario. “We are proud to partner with our film and television industry, continuing to foster an innovative, competitive climate that will drive Ontario forward as a leader in the global market.”

Karen Thorne-Stone, President & CEO, Ontario Media Development Corporation added that “We are delighted by the outstanding performance of the film and television industry. It is a testimonial to the fact that Ontario offers a ‘total package’ of incentives to attract foreign and domestic productions, including: the right mix of government support, stable and competitive financial incentives, world-class infrastructure, superb talent and skills and diverse locations.”

The rise came despite the continued strength of the Canadian dollar, aggressive competition from other jurisdictions and a soft global economy. Ontario Media Development Corporation (OMDC) programs also support the book and magazine publishing, music and interactive digital media industries. The entire entertainment and creative cluster supports almost 300,000 jobs and contributes $12.2 billion annually to the province’s GDP.

“Ontario provides a wide variety of options that make it very desirable for us to shoot our productions here. With its strong infrastructure, consistently reliable tax credit, a deep, professional crew base and many architectural styles and diverse locations available throughout the region, each of our series is able to find all of the resources they need in Ontario,” Said  Mark Binke, Senior Vice President, Cable and Digital Production for Universal Cable Productions/NBC Universal. “Additionally, we have great relationships that we have built over the past decade with local vendors and talent. OMDC President and CEO Karen Thorne and her team are great partners.”

Ontario Film And TV Production Quick Facts

• Ontario’s 2011 film & TV production activity contributed $1.26 billion to the economy – an increase of $300 million or 31% over 2010
• Increased spending was seen in virtually all areas, including domestic film, which spiked in 2011 contributing $165.9 million in 2011 compared to $62.6 million in 2010 – a 165% increase.
• Domestic television series grew 34% -  to $626.7 million in 2011 from $467.9 million in 2010
• Foreign feature film spending was $231.6 million compared to $159.3 million in 2010 – a 45% increase.
• Foreign television series spending continued to grow contributing $150.2 million in 2011 compared to $119.0 million in 2010 – a 26% increase.
• Total domestic production spending contributed $852.1 million, a 32% increase.
• Total foreign production spending increased by $94.7 million or 30%.
• The $1.26 billion in production activity accounted for almost 30,000 full-time direct and spin-off jobs.
• Every million dollars of film and TV production in Ontario generates 23 full-time direct and spin-off jobs.
• Ontario’s entire creative cluster includes: book and magazine publishing; sound recording; film and television; interactive digital media; performing arts; radio; advertising; architecture and design

2009-11 Ontario Film and Television Production activity chart broken down by format with foreign and domestic levels.

1991-2011 20-year graph showing Ontario production levels comparing foreign and domestic activity.

The City is a free, Web-based learning program developed by FCAC and the British Columbia Securities Commission (BCSC). The City is easily accessible and can be used by teachers and students online or on paper. In order to qualify to win the laptops, students face a “100% challenge”: they must complete four modules in The City and score 100 percent on a follow-up quiz. The three winners will be chosen randomly from a draw of all qualified entrants. The contest is open until March 31, 2012.

The contest rules are available on FCAC’s website, or can be obtained by calling the Agency’s Consumer Services Centre toll-free at 1-866-461-3222.

Teachers and students who have used The City talk about their experience in FCAC’s Success Stories videos featuring students in Alberta and New Brunswick.

Of the total investment, $350,000 is an equity investment from the GrowthWorks Atlantic Venture Fund and $192,000 is a research and development (R&D) project investment from RDC. Today’s support brings the Provincial Government’s total investment in adfinitum Networks to $522,000.

“Access to capital is critical for small businesses as they undertake product development, marketing activities, and ultimately expand their operations,” said the Honourable Keith Hutchings, Minister of Innovation, Business and Rural Development and Minister Responsible for RDC. “To assist small businesses like adfinitum Networks, it is important to bridge that gap and assist businesses address their immediate needs and position them for success over the long-term.  The involvement of GrowthWorks in this endeavour is even more exciting as venture capital-backed companies have greater opportunities for business success.”

GrowthWorks Atlantic Venture Fund is a leader in Canadian venture capital management. Its managed funds provide investment capital for Canadian companies and tax-advantaged investment opportunities for Canadian investors.

“The fund has invested $350,000 in adfinitum Networks, making it the third portfolio company we have within Newfoundland and Labrador,” said Thomas J. Hayes, President and CEO of GrowthWorks Atlantic Venture Fund. “We are delighted to be working with experienced angel investors, the Research & Development Corporation of Newfoundland and Labrador and ACOA to provide knowledge based companies with the capital and expertise to commercialize and expand their businesses.”

RDC works with R&D stakeholders including business, academia and government agencies and departments to improve Newfoundland and Labrador’s R&D performance.

“Supporting the R&D needs of entrepreneurial companies such as adfinitum Networks is an important role for RDC,” said Glenn Janes, Chief Executive Officer of RDC. “Given the scope of success that the company has experienced to date, adfinitum Networks is strategically positioning itself for future growth and the next generation of its products.”

RDC’s investment will help with the technical and financial risk that is involved in extending adfinitum Network’s market reach and product offering to create two new services: Analytics and Ad Spend. These new innovative technologies will be developed as a module that sits on top of the company’s existing database of ad creative, which will provide marketers valuable information about competitor advertising such as how often competitors are advertising and where competitors are advertising.

“I am very pleased to be able to partner with GrowthWorks Atlantic and the Government of Newfoundland and Labrador,” said Ed Clarke, CEO of adfinitum Networks. “Not only do they provide capital but they also have the experience and skills to help develop successful companies.”

ISS astronauts Don Pettit and Dan Burbank will be on standby for the next six weeks to photograph the Northern Lights for AuroraMAX, a public engagement initiative dedicated to promoting the science and the splendour of the aurora borealis. AuroraMAX is a collaboration between the University of Calgary, the City of Yellowknife, Astronomy North and the Canadian Space Agency, and features an online observatory that broadcasts the aurora live from Yellowknife.

When the forecast calls for active aurora, AuroraMAX alerts will be issued via Twitter and Facebook to invite skywatchers to view the auroras live online, while the astronauts on board the ISS photograph the aurora over Canada. After each session, the astronauts will beam their images back to Earth and within 48 hours, the public will be able to compare the imagery captured from Yellowknife with photos taken from the vantage point of space from the ISS.

Since the International Space Station orbits Earth at about 370 km in altitude-and the curtains of light stretch from around 100 km to well above 400 km-the pilot project will offer the public an astronaut’s eye view of the aurora. If the simultaneous Earth and space imagery is successful, the project might also shed light on some of the mysteries of this natural phenomenon, like why auroras form particular shapes.

The Open Data Portal is a one-stop shop for federal government data that can be downloaded free of charge by Canadian citizens, researchers, voluntary organizations and private sector businesses. Application developers can reuse and mashup this data for commercial purposes, research or community services for the benefit of all Canadians.

“These new additions are high-value data sets that Canadians can use in innovative ways to create economic opportunities,” said Minister Clement. “I encourage current and potential Canadian entrepreneurs to take a look and determine how they could benefit their businesses.”

These additional data sets come from six federal government organizations, and include comprehensive socio-economic statistical data from Statistics Canada, national broadband coverage data from Industry Canada, reports and charts on water and air quality from Environment Canada, and data sets from the Treasury Board Secretariat, Foreign Affairs and International Trade, and Health Canada.

The new data sets available through this portal include:

Environment Canada

• Reports and charts on water and air quality, protected habitat indicators, and municipal water and wastewater surveys

Foreign Affairs and International Trade Canada

• International trade data for poultry products

Health

• Data for licensed natural health products and authorization dates for all drugs dating back to 1994 that have received a notice of compliance

Industry Canada

• National broadband coverage data and the technical and administrative frequency list that contains data on radio system frequencies.

Statistics Canada

• Data from the Canadian Socio-economic Information Management
  System database

Treasury Board Secretariat

• Main Estimates tables by Statutory Forecast and Standard Object, which provide information on the type of expenditures planned by departments, agencies and Crown corporations

“As one of Canada’s leading Internet entrepreneurs, Robert Herjavec lives the business of the Internet,” said Byron Holland, President and CEO of the Canadian Internet Registration Authority (CIRA). “He is in a great position to provide real world insight into the role the Internet plays in the lives of Canadians.”

Herjavec’s keynote presentation will follow a panel of leading Canadian experts discussing the future of the Internet in Canada. Confirmed panellists include:

• Michael Geist, University of Ottawa
• Steve Anderson, OpenMedia
• Frédérick Gaudreau, Sûreté du Québec
• Bill Graham, Internet Society

At the CIF, CIRA will present findings from a three-month online dialogue with Canadians about the development of the Internet.  Hot topics among Canadians included digital literacy, security and safety, access/cost, digital economy, policy and governance, and technology and regulation.  Canadians have until February 13, 2012 to participate in this online discussion forum.

The results of the online discussion forum and the national event will be presented this fall to the United Nations-coordinated Internet Governance Forum, a venue for nations to discuss the future of the Internet.

The agenda for the CIF is available online.

Event: Canadian Internet Forum
Time and Date: 9 a.m. to 6 p.m., February 27, 2012
Location: Westin Ottawa, 11 Colonel By Drive, Ottawa

Registration is free and the event will be webcast in English and French to facilitate the interactive participation of all Canadians who are interested in Canada’s role in Internet governance.

• Google which continues to grow, expanding its current premises by another 11,000+ square feet for a total of 53,656 square feet at The Tannery Building in downtown Kitchener — also home to The Communitech Hub
• Desire2Learn - a learning solutions company in growth mode with 200 job openings — expanding to take over another full floor at the Tannery Building occupying 67,000 square feet in total;
• The University of Waterloo’s VeloCity incubator is moving into a new, expanded 6,500 square foot workspace in The Communitech Hub;
• The Communitech Hub is celebrating the grand opening of another 14,000 square feet of space, bringing its total floorspace to 44,000 square feet.

“Ontario’s innovation engine is on full throttle as we can see today at this celebration in Waterloo Region,” said Premier McGuinty. “Innovation programs that the Province has supported including contributing to The Communitech Hub which opened just 18 months ago, are working for all Ontarians — building a stronger economy for Ontario families.”

“We’re excited about the results that are being attained in Waterloo Region, driving innovative technologies, bringing those innovations to market and creating companies and jobs in Ontario, and we congratulate those here today who are in expansion mode and contributing to the vibrancy of the tech sector,” said Iain Klugman, CEO of Communitech.

Since first announcing its move to The Tannery, Google has doubled in size and continues to be one of the top engineering offices in Kitchener-Waterloo, driving tremendous growth and innovation worldwide.

“Kitchener-Waterloo is a great place to work and invest, and we are proud to be a part of the community, and a partner with Communitech to support not only our growth but the entire community’s success,” said Steve Woods, Engineering Director at Google.

Desire2Learn develops innovative solutions to help transform the learning experience and create a world where everyone has the opportunity to excel. The company is realizing phenomenal growth, with nearly 400 employees and more than 8 million users worldwide.

“We’re thrilled to be an active contributor to the innovation being generated in this Region,” commented John Baker, President and CEO, Desire2Learn Incorporated. “The outstanding products and services coming out of the Waterloo Region technology sector are having a dramatic impact around the globe.”

The University of Waterloo’s VeloCity program aims to develop Canada’s next generation of successful entrepreneurs. Students take their first steps in building startups and professional networks while living in the VeloCity residence on campus and then move up to the next level at the VeloCity workspace in The Communitech Hub.

“The grand opening of the new VeloCity workspace is a critical milestone in our continued efforts to foster the next generation of University of Waterloo mobile, media and web entrepreneurs,” said Mike Kirkup, Director of VeloCity. “The expanded workspace will enable us to increase collaboration, creative thinking and competition to help VeloCity companies turn their ideas into businesses.”

In 2009 the Province of Ontario invested $26.4 million into Communitech’s $107 million digital media strategy, which is anchored at The Communitech Hub. In just two short years, job and company creation has significantly accelerated since the Province’s investment, said Klugman. Within 18 months, demand from companies and requirements for support services drove the need for the current expansion. Today’s event was held in the newly renovated additional space.

Last week, Communitech reported that 450 startup jobs and 300 new companies emerged in Waterloo Region during 2011, along with continued hiring in established companies. Companies working with the Communitech startups team raised over $70 million in funding from venture capitalists, angel investors and government incentive programs to fuel innovation during 2011.

All BlackBerry smartphones running BlackBerry 7 and BlackBerry 7.1 benefit from this certification, including the BlackBerry® Bold™ 9900, 9930 and 9790, BlackBerry® Torch™ 9850, 9860 and 9810, and BlackBerry® Curve™ 9350, 9360, 9370 and 9380.

“The FIPS 140-2 certification for BlackBerry 7.0 and 7.1 illustrates RIM’s continuing commitment to providing industry-leading, secure, mobile computing platforms for our customers,” said Scott Totzke, Senior Vice President, BlackBerry Security at Research In Motion. “With all of the latest BlackBerry smartphones and the PlayBook tablet certified under the FIPS program, government and security-conscious customers can deploy our entire range of products with confidence.”

In addition to FIPS 140-2 certification, the BlackBerry 7 OS has received Common Criteria EAL4+ certification. The BlackBerry® PlayBook™ tablet received FIPS 140-2 validation last July.

The goal of this delegation is to highlight Saskatchewan cross-platform media products at the Banff World Media Festival (BWMF) in order to gain investment and exposure for Saskatchewan talent. SMPIA wants to show off the brightest and best cross-media projects and companies from Saskatchewan to industry experts from around the world.

Members of the delegation will be determined through a pitch competition to be held at SMPIA’s Multi-PlatFORUM 2012 on March 27-28th in Regina. Two projects, each comprised of a team made up of one Film/TV company representative and one Interactive company representative, will be selected by a jury of cross-media professionals from across Canada to be part of the official delegation. Each presentation will receive immediate feedback from the jury and official delegation members will be announced on March 28th at the event.

Members of the official delegation will join SMPIA to present their projects as examples of innovative cross-media as part of a panel at the Banff World Media Festival. They will also participate in receptions and meetings arranged for the delegation at the event.

Don’t miss this chance to present your latest cross-media project to this high profile jury and potentially represent our province in Banff.

Eligibility And Guidelines:

• All applicants must be at least 19 years of age and residents of Saskatchewan.
• Applicants must each hold a valid SMPIA membership. You can sign up online.
• For the purposes of this initiative, a cross platform project is defined as one that tells a story to an audience using more than one form of media, with at least one of them being interactive. The full story can be told on many platforms including gaming, mobile application, social media, web series, as well as film and television.
• While SMPIA recognizes that many companies are creating multi-disciplinary positions within their companies, this project is intended to support the partnering of traditional media companies with interactive companies on projects with common characters, themes and stories, similar to those eligible for CMF and Bell Broadcast and New Media Fund applications. As such, applications must include representatives from separate traditional and interactive media companies as defined on the application form.
• Projects submitted can be in any stage of development/production/distribution, but to be eligible, as of March 27th projects must be at a stage where there is some visual material to display during the pitch.
• The pitch competition to select the official delegation teams will take place at SMPIA’s Multi—PlatFORUM March 27-28th in Regina. Applicants must be available to attend the event. Registration at the event is not required to participate in the pitch, but if pitchers wish to attend the other activities at Multi-PlatFORUM, they will need to register for the conference. Teams will be notified of their acceptance into the pitching competition at Multi-PlatFORUM by February 24, 2012.
• Companies may apply to pitch more than one project, but each project must submit a separate application package. A maximum of one project per company will be selected for the final official delegation.
• Each team will be given 5 minutes to present their project at the pitch event. Pitches should include a description of the project’s story, how it will manifest across multiple mediums, how it will engage audience and the business model attached to the project.
• Projects will be evaluated on:
  o innovative storytelling/use of platforms
  o market potential /success to date
  o quality of presentation
  o project/company readiness for participation in the BWMF
• Members of the official delegation will be required to present their projects as examples of innovative cross-media as part of a panel at the Banff World Media Festival. They will also be required to participate in receptions and meetings arranged for the delegation at the event and submit a brief report to SMPIA regarding business done at the festival by June 22, 2012.
• For delegation members, SMPIA will arrange and cover costs for:
  o festival registration
  o flight and shuttle transportation to Banff
  o hotel accommodation at SMPIA selected hotel for the duration of the festival
  o All other costs will be the responsibility of the delegates.
• Participation in this delegation is valued at $5000/team but will be offered free of cost thanks to the support of the Saskatchewan Arts Board. As SMPIA is committing to present companies as part of the official Banff program, it is essential that applicants commit to attending and participating in the festival events. In the event a selected delegate must cancel, any penalties or fees incurred by SMPIA will be charged to the delegate.
• To apply for the pitch competition and official SMPIA delegation to Banff, submit an application form with company bios to nova-at-smpia.sk.ca by February 17th, 2012.

“Today CATA has launched an advocacy Campaign to encourage provincial securities legislators to adopt approaches similar to the H.R. 2930 U.S. Entrepreneur Access to Capital Act,” said CATAAlliance President John Reid.

The Entrepreneurs Access to Capital Act, recently passed in the U.S House of Representatives with overwhelming support, will serve as a new capital formation pathway that makes it easier for business to be crowd funded. A bill to enact the Act, as well as a similar Senate bill (S. 1791) is currently before the U.S. Senate. President Obama has issued a statement of support for crowd funding legislation.

Peter Andrews, CATA Director and Regional Director, Corum Group Ltd., said “the crowd funding model is like a bake sale, where people pitch in a small amount of money to get a project off the ground.  The big difference in the case of the recent U.S. legislation is that instead of offering a service or product in exchange for money received, companies will be selling equity to get their idea off the ground. More investors are motivated to invest more if they receive an equity stake.”

While crowd funding is not a new concept, in recent years the social media explosion has added “jet fuel” to the model because innovative ideas can instantly meet thousands and thousands of people (i.e., Facebook, Linkedin & Twitter followers) willing to support them.

The New Legislation

Key features of the new U.S. crowd funding legislation include:

• $1,000,000 limit on the amount an issuer can raise through the exemption in any year (or if the H.R. 2930 scheme is endorsed by the U.S. Senate, up to $2,000,000 if the issuer provides audited financial statements); and

• limits on the amount sold to any investor in any year (in H.R. 2930, the limit is the lesser of (a)$10,000 and (b) 10% of the investor’s annual income).

The legislation includes an array of safeguards for investors, including provision of warnings to investors, requirements to provide information to the U.S. SEC, resale restrictions, and disqualification criteria based on the disciplinary history of the issuer or certain related persons.

A recent issue of Small Business Report provides additional insights into Crowd Funding and Start up Capital.

Access to Capital: The Crowd Funding Campaign

The Campaign aims to encourage the adoption of similar approaches  across Canadian jurisdictions and is an integral part of the industry’s Competitive Innovation Nation program launched under the tutelage of Canada’s leading entrepreneur, Sir Terence Matthews that lays out what we must do as a nation to move us from a 13th place ranking to first place in innovation rankings.

The industry is also calling for the introduction of a shared federal/provincial “Venture Capital Investment Tax Credit” system based on the very successful model currently operating in B.C.

William Hutchison, Chair of i-CANADA, a community focused initiative to boost the competitive performance of Canada’s cities, said, “Crowd funding promises to offer new revenue opportunities to the vital start-up sector of our economy — a stimulus at the time when it is most needed.”

He added, ” At the very least, we should be offering all the options that our neighbour to the south offers. The i-CANADA Advisory Board, made up of Premiers, Mayors and thought leaders lends its support to the adoption of a Crowd Funding model for Canada. ”

CATA CEO, John Reid, said “Many Canadian start-ups have great ideas, but they never get funded. Our under-capitalized companies compete against U.S. firms that have about three times their funding.  And now the U.S. will add new legislation that will make it easier for small investors to invest in early stage companies.  Technology entrepreneurs are highly mobile and may simply decide to start their new businesses in the U.S. if that is where they have access to start-up capital. We are being left behind and our commercialization gap will further widen.”

He added, “If we adopted a similar approach to the Entrepreneur Access to Capital Act in the U.S., this new avenue for capital could significantly change the fundraising atmosphere in Canada making investments in startup ventures accessible to the general public. Thousands of new jobs will be created and retained in the process. Let’s not be left behind.”

Currently in its pilot phase, the year-long project aims to recruit 10 participants 55 years and older who suffer from Alzheimer’s or other related diseases. The participant will be equipped with a Laipac S-911 HC bracelet that features built-in GPS technology. The device, manufactured by Laipac Technology Inc., will be able to provide real time tracking information on the whereabouts of an Alzheimer’s patient. The Halifax police will then be able to use this information to track and locate the missing individual.

Secondary benefits of the device include a shock sensor, capable of alerting authorities when the patient slips or falls. The device can also make voice calls to up to 14 phone numbers, including 4 quick-dial numbers, in the event of an emergency.

The pilot program is called Project S.O.F.T. (Satellite Option Finding Technology) Wear and interested participants can learn more about the program on the Alzheimer’s Society of Nova Scotia website.

“We are moving ahead with the implementation as planned to ensure that independent ISPs will continue to offer competitive and innovative services to Canadians,” said Leonard Katz, the CRTC’s Acting Chairman and Vice-Chairman of Telecommunications. “Some temporary adjustments have been made to ensure a smooth transition to the new billing regime and to ensure consumers are not inconvenienced.”

As an interim measure, independent ISPs who are customers of the Bell companies will have the flexibility to either merge their business and residential Internet traffic, or keep them separate.

In November 2011, the CRTC established how large telephone and cable companies should charge independent ISPs for the use of their networks. In the case of wholesale residential and business services, the large telephone and cable companies may charge a flat monthly fee regardless of how much bandwidth customers of the independent ISPs use. The flat-rate model took effect November 15, 2011.

These decisions affect only the wholesale services the large telephone and cable companies provide to independent ISPs. The CRTC does not regulate the rates or packages that ISPs offer to consumers.

Telecom Order CRTC 2012-60

Reference documents:

News release, “CRTC supports choice of Internet services,” November 15, 2011
Telecom Regulatory Policy CRTC 2011-703
Telecom Regulatory Policy CRTC 2011-704

If passed in their original form, this legislation would provide police with much greater ability to access and track information about identifiable individuals via the communications technologies that we use every day, such as the Internet, smart phones, and other mobile devices, at times, without a warrant or any judicial authorization.

“This represents a looming system of “Surveillance by Design,” that should concern us all in a free and democratic society, which is why I have organized a public Symposium — to increase awareness, in an effort to improve the legislation before it is re-introduced,” said Commissioner Cavoukian.

“By proactively embedding the principles of Privacy by Design (PbD) into the development of new technologies, PbD can accommodate legitimate business interests in a “positive sum,” win-win manner. We must get rid of the mindset that privacy must be sacrificed for the sake of other interests — it does not.”

“We can, and must, have both privacy and security. Give me RealPrivacy NOT privacy theatre.”

Symposium Presenters include:

• Dr. Ann Cavoukian, Information and Privacy Commissioner, Ontario, Canada, Keynote Address – “Beware of Surveillance by Design: Stand Up for Freedom and Privacy“
• Alan Borovoy, General Counsel, Emeritus, Canadian Civil Liberties Association, Special Welcome and Introductory Comments
• Professor John Villasenor, The Brookings Institution and UCLA, Presentation – “The Impact of Surveillance on Dissent, Freedom, and Social Change“
• Dr. Ron Deibert, Professor, Political Science, University of Toronto, Presentation – “The Impact of Surveillance on the International Stage: Will Canada “Lower the Bar” Globally?”
• John Ibbitson, Ottawa Bureau Chief, Globe and Mail, Presentation – “The Impact of Surveillance on the Average Canadian“
• Nathalie Des Rosiers, General Counsel, Canadian Civil Liberties Association, Presentation – “The Impact of Surveillance on Diversity, Social Creativity, and Policing“
• David Fraser, Partner, McInnes Cooper Privacy Practice Group, Presentation – “The Impact of Surveillance on Businesses in the Information Age“

“Bringing together this highly respected panel of thought leaders to share their perspectives on this legislation and “Surveillance by Design” is an ideal way to commemorate International Privacy Day, marking 31 years since the first binding international convention of privacy came into force,” said Commissioner Cavoukian.

The Symposium will take place on January 27th at MaRS Discovery District, MaRS Centre South tower, Suite 100 (Auditorium – Lower Level), 101 College Street in Toronto. Presentations begin at 9:00 a.m. and will run until 11:00 a.m. Members of the public are welcome to attend this event. Pre-registration is requested. For those wishing to attend virtually, this event will be webcast live and fully archived.

You are also invited to visit the recently-launched website for more event details, as well as information regarding concerns about “lawful access” legislation and positive solutions to address them. You will also find the agency’s Write My MP tool, where citizens can easily write their Member of Parliament and urge the government to reconsider the proposed laws.

The successful projects will be produced and distributed by television event producers Communications IBTV Inc. and Productions Select TV Inc.; feature film producers Melenny Productions Inc., Cirrus Communications Inc. and Ciné Télé Action Inc.; and distributors Les Films Séville Inc., Alliance Vivafilm Inc. and Atopia Distribution Inc.

Quebecor Fund’s EFPAP program seeks to capture synergies with all industry stakeholders in order to:

• support the production of Canadian French-language feature films;
• support multiplatform exploitation of feature films and, in particular, foster integrated marketing strategies with an interactive component, starting from the development stage;
• enable the creative / production team to produce a work as close as possible to its original creative vision;
• support television coverage of French-language events with Canadian content;
• support television coverage of events with integrated promotion and distribution on multiple platforms, including TV on demand;
• help recipients realize a return on investment in order to increase the Fund’s impact.

Quebecor Fund is an independent fund with a mission to support the production of Canadian content intended for television broadcast. Quebecor Fund backs television, film and event production, as well as the production of related interactive multimedia components that use new information and communication technologies, particularly platforms such as high-speed Internet, interactive television (ITV), video on demand (VoD), and/or various fixed and mobile devices.

Quebecor Fund was established through Videotron Ltd., which provides over $7.2 million annually in broadcasting distribution undertaking (BDU) contributions to the Canadian industry. Under its new Event and Film Production Assistance Program (EFPAP), launched in September 2010, Quebecor Fund has granted financial assistance totalling nearly $2.4 million to date.

RECIPIENTS:

EVENT PRODUCTIONS:

Le Ranch à Willie (working title)

• Television producer: Communications IBTV Inc. - Event producer: Communications IBTV Inc.
  The 45^th edition of the Festival Western de St-Tite will open with a country music spectacular starring some of the biggest names in Québec music: Isabelle Boulay, Roch Voisine, Patrick Norman, La Famille Daraîche and more. It will be taped to produce a two-hour, high-definition concert special in the spirit of Willie Lamothe’s classic early 1970s variety show on channel 10, Le Ranch à Willie.

Le Retour de nos Idoles 2012

• Television producer: Productions Select TV Inc. – Event producer: Musicor Spectacles
  Following the phenomenal success of the 2011 edition of Le Retour de nos Idoles, the incomparable Ginette Reno will spearhead another extravaganza featuring a new batch of French-language hits from the 1960s to the 1980s, performed by 16 of Québec’s biggest pop stars. The show will run from May 4 to 6, 2012 at the Colisée Pepsi in Québec City.

FILM PRODUCTIONS:

Les Boys le premier chapitre

• Producer: Melenny Productions Inc. - Distributor: Les Films Séville Inc.
  The prequel to the first Les Boys films tells the story of Stan, Jean-Charles, Méo, Bob, Fern and Marcel when they were aged 12 to 15. The action happens in 1965. The boys are playing on the parish’s second hockey team and getting ready for the Christmas tournament. Meanwhile, off the rink, they experience the trials and tribulations of adolescence, some humorous, some not so humorous. Together, they will confront teen angst and cope with it. The bosom buddies play together and grow together.

Amsterdam

• Producer: Cirrus Communications Inc. - Distributor: Alliance Vivafilm Inc.
  In a small, typical lumber town, three childhood friends decide to go on a dream vacation. Pretending to leave for their annual fishing trip, they sneak off to Amsterdam for a weekend of total freedom. But when it’s time to head back, one of them is nowhere to be found. The resulting web of lies tests their friendship and ruptures their apparently peaceful lives.

Rouge sang

• Producer: Ciné Télé Action Inc. - Distributor: Atopia Distribution Inc.
  In a remote St. Lawrence Valley hamlet in 1799, a young mother experiences a New Year’s Eve from hell when she is forced to lodge four British soldiers. After a long and stormy night, the tension mounts and culminates in dramatic events. But who is the victim and who the assailant? In the light of dawn, the events of the night take on a different hue.

“With this concrete support to the Québec Film and Television Council, the Government of Canada is giving new impetus to economic growth and job creation,” says Minister Lebel.

Through its mission, the QFTC helps the province’s film and television industry better promote its high degree of technological expertise and the quality and skill of its labour force. Foreign productions represent a major source of revenue for Quebec enterprises operating in the sector. The QFTC’s two-year promotional campaign is expected to attract a significant number of foreign productions to the province, generating an estimated $400 million in economic spinoffs. This $516,750 non-repayable contribution has been awarded through Canada Economic Development’s Business and Regional Growth program.

“Gaining VOR status with the Ontario Government for Solutions Based I&IT Services is a great compliment to our existing task-based Vendor of Record status. Zylog can provide unique and innovative solutions to the Provincial Government on a broader scale, with highly competitive rates, and with a wider variety of delivery methodologies,” said John Mehrmann, CEO of Zylog Systems (Canada) Ltd. “This type of pre-qualification allows Zylog to work more closely with key public sector organizations to drive innovation, improve citizen services, and save time and money”.

The solutions-based Vendor of Record list is only for elite companies. Qualifying vendors are required to have delivered projects in excess of $5 million in value that require specialized skills in a variety of technologies. Zylog has successfully provided task-based services to Provincial and Federal Government, demonstrating the highest levels of commitment and quality. Zylog now has the opportunity to participate with bids and proposals for solutions.

Mr. Katz has served as the CRTC’s Vice-Chairman of Telecommunications since October 2007. He previously served as the Executive Director of Broadcasting and Telecommunications. Before joining the CRTC, he spent 30 years in the private sector, serving as President and Chief Operating Officer of Digimerge Technologies and President of Rogers Business Solutions, among other senior roles.

Under the Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission Act, CRTC Commissioners may authorize one of the Vice-Chairpersons to exercise the powers and duties of the Chairperson when a Governor-in-Council appointment has not been made.

“We have reached a point where information – not only strongly-identifiable Social Insurance Numbers, but also IP addresses, licence plate numbers, and mobile devices – serve as pointers to personally-identifiable information, through an ever-expanding web of data linkages.  This bears little resemblance to anonymous information,” the Commissioner said.

New analytic tools and algorithms now make it possible – not only to link numbers to names – but to also combine information from multiple sources, ultimately creating an accurate profile of a personally-identifiable individual – and in the process, to reveal their online activities.

“Imagine a scenario where your ‘anonymous’ comments on a newspaper website or in an online chat forum, could be tracked back to you personally, simply by linking your IP address and browser data across multiple platforms,” the Commissioner said.

The Commissioner’s advice to consumers:  As people share more and more personal information about themselves in new ways (such as personal blogs and social networking sites), they need to consider the nature of the information they share, and how their personal information might be used.

At the same time, she urges organizations that collect and use this data to offer consumers a clear, easy-to-use mechanism to opt out of the collection and use of their personal information.  Better still – make privacy the default setting.

The Commissioner’s comments come in advance of International Data Privacy Day, January 28, which promotes awareness and education about privacy and best practices relating to data protection.

To commemorate International Privacy Day, the Commissioner is holding a public Symposium on Friday January 27, Beware of “Surveillance by Design:” Standing Up for Freedom and Privacy, where highly-respected thought leaders will discuss the privacy implications of proposed federal bills providing police with “lawful access” to individuals’ telecommunications. Details can be found at www.realprivacy.ca.

A jury of leading digital media experts from Canada and abroad assessed applicants for production support based on innovation and the production team criteria. The remaining factors for the production projects, as well as the applications for development and marketing support were evaluated by analysts from the CMF Program Administrator, Telefilm Canada.

Since its creation in April 2010, the CMF has provided more than 59 million dollars in funding to more than 165 innovative experimental projects originating from every region in Canada. These projects include game-changing content for the web and interactive consoles, and software and mobile applications that set new standards for the industry.

“The Canada Media Fund is pleased to invest in projects that continue to set the standard for innovation across Canada and the world,” says Valerie Creighton, President and Chief Executive Officer, Canada Media Fund.  “We saw an increase in the number of applications and funding demand which means that the creative talent continues to develop innovative ideas with which Canadians want to interact.”

More than 175 applications were submitted to either of the following three types of support: Development, Production, and Marketing. A total of 16 million dollars was distributed amongst selected projects. Of this sum, approximately 4 million dollars was distributed as development support; approximately 12 million as production support, and more than $300,000 as marketing support.

Development support – Out of 77 applicants, 14 projects received development support. Of those, two are from British Columbia; four are from Ontario; and eight are from Québec. The average commitment for projects receiving development support is: $273,000.

Development support provides funding for the conceptualization of an eligible project and/or for the development of the creative and technical elements of an eligible project and the drafting of a product proposal for business development and financing purposes.

Production support – Of the 75 applications for production support, 23 received funding. These projects, some of which will hit the market in 2012 and 2013, are from various parts of the country including: one project from Alberta; seven projects from British Columbia; seven projects from Ontario, and; eight projects from Québec. The average commitment for projects receiving production support is: $520,000.

Production support provides funding for the creation of a final, market-ready version of an eligible project, including localization of the project and early marketing/commercialization activities.

Marketing support – Of the 11 projects requesting funding, two projects—one from Alberta and one from British Columbia—received funding. The average commitment for projects receiving marketing support is: $151,000.

Marketing support provides funding for the marketing and promotion of an eligible project such as the creation of national and international marketing campaigns, design costs, creation and market-testing of advertising, use of the Internet for promotion or transactions, and more.

For projects at the production stage, the innovation and production team criteria  were assessed by a jury of Canadian and international industry specialists:

• Sylvain Carle (Montreal)
• Frédéric Cavazza (Paris, FR)
• Gina Desjardins (Montréal)
• Lucie Lalumière (Toronto)
• Fréderik Lesage (Vancouver)
• Jeff Mignon (New York City, NY)
• Michele Perras (Toronto)
• Liz Rosenthal (London, UK)

“My new Pholiofy page shows my personality. It’s fun, colorful and it showcases my latest songs and videos,” said Rosette. “As a musician, it’s important for me to have a strong online image and Pholiofy allows me to do it easily.”

“When we designed the Pholiofy Facebook app we envisioned everyone from small to large businesses and brands to entertainers like Rosette using it,” said David Miller, Principal, Pholiofy. “Pholiofy is the first of its kind in Canada to use WordPress to design Facebook pages. It fills a huge need out there for customized pages to share cool content, like Rosette’s new single.”

Pholiofy also allows page owners to have a fan gate – only letting people who have “liked” their page see additional content, coupons and promotional information. For Rossette, this means that each of her fans can like her Facebook page and be the first to see her new video.

“I want at least half a million fans on Facebook and Twitter. With services like Pholiofy, I feel like I can do it without a label,” added Rosette. “With my new official Facebook page, I have a lot more control. I’m so grateful that Pholiofy can get me that much closer to my goals.”

“Using Pholiofy for Facebook is a wonderful way for recording artists like Rosette to connect with fans and share exclusive content with those who like her page,” said Miller.

“Ever since assuming my post, my greatest challenge has been to raise awareness of our office’s existence and effectiveness; the social media, therefore, have become essential tools for a more direct interaction,” Me. Savard writes in her first post on her blog called “L’Ombudsman de Montréal sur les médias sociaux : pourquoi?” (Why is the Ombudsman de Montréal on social media?)

Me. Savard is very eager to maintain a direct dialogue with citizens and she invites them to write to her to ask questions, send along their comments and share their thoughts.

As explained to the citizens in her blog, the goal of this new approach is to “help you learn more about our day-to-day operations, with tangible examples of situations we have handled. This should allow you to understand better the extent and limits of our jurisdiction and powers.”

The Ombudsman also has a YouTube Channel.

“Our government’s support for science and technology, through programs like the Knowledge Infrastructure Program, has both made a difference in the short term and set the stage for future prosperity,” said Minister of State Goodyear. “The investment at the University of Victoria created jobs for people on Vancouver Island at a critical time, while making improvements that the university will need to maintain its reputation as a research leader.”

The government’s investment of $20.9 million resulted in six newly refurbished University of Victoria buildings that now boast more research and laboratory space as well as numerous energy-efficient upgrades.

Minister of State Goodyear held a roundtable discussion with city business leaders at the offices of the Victoria Advanced Technology Council. Following the meeting, the Minister of State met with entrepreneurs and researchers on a tour of the Vancouver Island Technology Park.

Minister of State Goodyear’s visit to Victoria precedes his trip to Vancouver in February where he will take part in the official opening of the Canada Pavilion at the American Association for the Advancement of Science conference.

“We are living in a digital age, where our online activities can easily be tracked, stored, shared and analyzed, and we are under constant pressure to share more personal information,” notes the Commissioner. “But given the power and complexity of today’s technologies, we should all be thinking less is more when it comes to sharing personal information on the Internet.”

Canadians are the world’s biggest Internet users, logging an average of 43.5 hours of online browsing per month, almost twice the global average, according to a recent global ComScore report on Internet use and online trends. However, many do not fully understand the implications this has for their privacy. Once their personal information is on the Internet, they have very little control over who sees it, how it is used, or how long it will be available.

“By sharing less personal information, we can help limit our exposure and the risks of our personal information being misused, abused or disclosed without consent.”

So, whether we are social networking, using an app on a mobile device, or signing up for discounts and deals, we need to think carefully about the personal information we are putting into cyberspace.

“Less is more” is also good advice for businesses and organizations that collect personal information notes Commissioner Stoddart. “Collecting and holding excess data raises the risks for your customers, but it is also costly for your business,” she warns. “It increases your risk of data breaches—which can be damaging to your reputation and expensive to clean up.”

This week, the Office of the Privacy Commissioner of Canada joins governments, privacy professionals, corporations, academics and students from around the world, in marking Data Privacy Day, an annual international celebration designed to promote awareness about privacy and education about best privacy practices.

In support of Data Privacy Day, the Office of the Privacy Commissioner of Canada will be engaging in a number of activities in the week to leading up to January 28, such as the launch of some new youth privacy tools, and presentations to youth, public servants, businesses and staff. The Office has also produced some new resources, such as posters and graphics which can be used to raise awareness of privacy in any organization.

Three new tools to help young Internet users protect their privacy during a presentation by Commissioner Stoddart to students at Ottawa’s Hopewell Avenue Public School on Tuesday, January 24, 2012.

The Internet has become one of the most powerful tools kids have to connect with friends and make new ones. But the online world is a complex and rapidly evolving environment, and many kids don’t fully understand the impact that some of their activities may have on their privacy.

The new tools are designed to help teachers and parents communicate with young people about the privacy risks associated with online activities. These new tools build on the work the Office has been doing to educate youth about online privacy issues and encourage them to take steps to protect their personal information.

“It was a natural evolution of our technology, to enable a service like this for students,” says Guardly CEO, Josh Sookman. “Given the high prevalence of sexual assault against women and increases in violent acts on some campuses, we feel this innovation should be something provided to students for free. So we’ve done just that!”

Rona Ambrose, the Federal Minister of the Status of Women Canada, has recently shown public interest in taking action against violence against women at Canadian colleges and universities. In November 2011, Ms. Ambrose announced a request for proposals to end violence against women on post-secondary campuses. By empowering each person on campus with a virtual emergency phone to quickly report crimes and other emergencies, Guardly hopes to foster communities on campus that will look out for one another, boost safety awareness and action against crimes. For perpetrators, this is a very scary proposition since anyone within earshot can now report crimes immediately.

Every student, faculty and staff member at the 67 supported universities and colleges across Canada will be eligible to use the free mobile emergency phone service. To register for and use the free service, you must sign up with your post-secondary school-issued email address, which automatically associates your account with your affiliated university or college. Once registered, when using Guardly on-campus to send any emergency alert, you will be connected to campus security by phone. We know when to connect you with campus security by quickly finding your GPS location and determining if you are within the boundaries of the campus. If you are off-campus, Guardly will not connect you with campus security, but will allow you to alert and connect with up to 15 people in your safety group as well as escalate more severe emergencies to 9-1-1.

Guardly is available as a free download on iPhone, BlackBerry, Android and Windows Phone 7 devices.

Guardly is inviting students to join and participate in its Campus Hero Campaign. Joining the Campus Hero Campaign is easy and represents a positive step toward ending violence on Canadian campuses.

By downloading the Guardly app, students can work together as a collective group to take a stand against anybody looking to cause trouble on their campus. By simply sharing a message and encouraging friends to protect themselves and each other, we create vital awareness around violence against women and campus safety. In effect, students are assuming the roles of Campus Heroes.

The Guardly Safe Campus program is a management layer for campus security teams to manage incoming Guardly alerts. Partnering with the Guardly Safe Campus Program gives campus security more visibility into each emergency call on campus including the ability to identify callers, view additional profile information, track caller location in real-time and communicate with emergency callers by voice or instant messaging.

“The networks of the future will be primarily based on Internet Protocol,” said Konrad von Finckenstein, Q.C., Chairman of the CRTC. “We have established basic principles to ensure this technology becomes the industry standard for voice networks as quickly as possible. The industry was able to reach a consensus on many key issues during this proceeding, and we appreciate their commitment.”

At the moment, companies are at different stages in their adoption of IP. Large telephone companies have traditionally relied on voice circuit-switched technology (known as TDM) to transfer telephone calls to and from other service providers. Although they are gradually migrating their networks to IP, large telephone companies continue to rely on the older technology.

By comparison, companies that began offering telephone services in the last few years, such as cable companies and wireless providers, have built IP-based networks. At present, they are responsible for converting their IP telephone calls to the older TDM standard.

In areas where a large telephone company uses IP to transfer telephone calls to either an affiliated or unaffiliated provider, it must provide a similar arrangement to any other provider that asks for it. The CRTC is requiring large telephone companies to negotiate such arrangements within six months of a formal request.

The CRTC has also simplified the rules under which the costs of transferring telephone calls between a wireless and a wireline provider are shared. A key point was the different obligations between independent wireless providers and those that are affiliated with a larger communications company. Currently, independent providers are responsible for paying the entire cost unless they allow alternative long-distance providers access to their networks.

Under the CRTC’s new policy, wireless providers will no longer be required to give this access to alternative long-distance providers since they already offer a variety of plans and Canadians can choose from other long-distance options, such as prepaid cards and local access numbers. These changes will reduce costs for many wireless providers, particularly for those that have recently entered the Canadian wireless market, and level the playing field between independent providers and those that are affiliated with a larger communications company.

Today’s decision follows a proceeding that included a public hearing that was held in Gatineau, Que., from October 24 to November 1, 2011.

By the end of the month, the CRTC will have completed a comprehensive review of its major telecommunications regulations. This exercise was launched in response to the government’s policy direction to rely as much as possible on market forces, and today’s decision represents one of the last steps. During the last five years, the CRTC has deregulated many segments of the telecommunications market and reduced the scope of existing regulations.

“Adding red tape oversight to the mandate of the Auditor General is a really innovative idea. If the federal government moves on this it will show it is very, very serious about eliminating dumb and ineffective rules and improving government customer service,” said Catherine Swift, CFIB president and member of the Federal Red Tape Reduction Commission.

The Commission’s report includes a wide range of other recommendations to reduce and control red tape including: implementing “one-for-one” legislation that eliminates one existing regulation and its associated costs for every new regulation introduced; requiring government departments to improve customer service; reviewing government publications to make sure they are using plain language; reporting regulatory requirements; and making part of senior public servants’ bonuses conditional on successfully implementing the “one-for-one” rule.

“These recommendations are common sense—they will save Canada’s job creators time and money, while not costing taxpayers. It’s the ultimate stimulus package,” said Laura Jones, CFIB senior vice-president, Research and Economics. CFIB estimates that regulation costs Canadian businesses over $30 billion a year, with about 25 per cent of that cost ($7.5 billion) being unnecessary red tape.

The Commission was announced by Prime Minister Harper on January 14, 2011, during CFIB’s second annual Red Tape Awareness Week™, where he called red tape “a silent killer of jobs.”  The mandate of the Commission is to identify red tape irritants and recommend long-term solutions to control red tape.

To mark the occasion and as part of its partnership commitments to BAnQ, Warner Bros. Games Montreal has donated an initial collection of 150 titles consisting of movies and television shows on DVD and Blu Ray formats. The collection also features a number of video games, the first to be included within BAnQ’s library. In addition, WB Games will periodically deliver its latest releases to BAnQ in order to help build and expand the collections of Quebec’s premier cultural institution. Over the coming months, WB Games and BAnQ will explore more ways in which they can collaborate to the benefit of all.

“When we established our permanent Montreal studios at Place Dupuis in the heart of the Quartier Latin, we also started to grow our roots here. Becoming more involved within the community with activities that are aligned with our philosophy is a priority now. To this end, Bibliothèque et Archives nationales du Québec is a natural partner for WB Games. We share a common goal: ensuring that culture is accessible to all. We are confident that together, we can have a positive impact in that regard,” affirmed Mr. Carrier.

Thanks to Warner Bros. Games Montréal’s donation, BAnQ will create a collection of video games, a sector in which it has not been active in the past. “The video game has become an art on its own. It is called the 10th art.  The adaptation of books and videos illustrates the synergy that now exists among all of these artistic forms,” said Guy Berthiaume, Chair and CEO of BAnQ. “I believe that it is essential for the Grande Bibliothèque to open its shelves up to these works. I’m very pleased that this donation from Warner Brothers Games Montréal has enabled us to open a completely new component in our lending collection.”

The initial collection of WB Games titles will be available at BAnQ as of March 2012, following their inclusion in the organization’s database.

“Our government recognizes that to fuel business innovation, jobs and long term economic growth, young Canadians need to explore the benefits of pursuing an education or career in scientific fields,” said MP Carrie. “Today’s contribution will allow FIRST Robotics Canada to introduce more students to real-world science and technology challenges.”

FIRST Robotics Canada will use the funding to involve more high school students in robot-building competitions, with teams competing against each other in tournaments televised by the Discovery Channel. The organization will also establish its successfully piloted Junior FIRST Lego League, which targets students aged six to nine, and expand its FIRST Lego League, which targets students aged nine to 14.

“Our goal is to engage up to 1,650 new students in southern Ontario through participation in our interactive team-based competitive robotics events, over the duration of this two-and-a-half year project,” said Mark Breadner, executive director, FIRST Robotics Canada. “This investment will help us offset entry and travel fees for new school teams, ensuring higher access to FIRST programs by all youth regardless of socio-economic status. This will result in greater participation for our students.”

The investment is provided through FedDev Ontario’s Youth STEM Initiative, aimed at encouraging students in kindergarten through grade 12 to pursue an education or career in STEM fields.

CFIB criss-crossed the country to hear from small business owners such as Claude Lavoie, an entrepreneur near Ottawa, Ontario, who was driven to distraction because of a wrinkle with CRA that he says took too long to smooth out.

“Small business owners are your neighbours, friends and relatives. They’re paying a monetary and emotional price to jump through hoops that don’t need to exist,” says Laura Jones, CFIB senior vice-president of research, economics and Western Canada. “The Red Tape Digital Diaries show Canadians how overbearing and unnecessary regulations damage the lives and businesses of real people in their community.”

CFIB research estimates that regulation costs Canadian businesses $30 billion each year in compliance costs alone. The smallest firms are hardest hit: companies with fewer than four employees spend $5,825 a year on average to comply with regulations.

Red tape creates costs for consumers and workers too. When business owners are forced to deal with red tape, it’s time and money they’re not spending building their businesses, creating jobs, and expanding the economy.

According to Canadian businesses, the burden could be reduced by at least 25 per cent without harming the legitimate objectives of regulation such as protecting health and safety. “This is the equivalent of a $7.5 billion annual stimulus package. Governments must take this issue seriously. We hope these stories will help,” concluded Jones.

Reference documents:

• Broadcasting Notice of Consultation CRTC 2011-675
• Broadcasting Notice of Consultation CRTC 2011-675-1
• Broadcasting Notice of Consultation CRTC 2011-675-2
• Broadcasting Notice of Consultation CRTC 2011-675-3
• Broadcasting Notice of Consultation CRTC 2011-675-4

This support encourages new industry collaborations, leverages partnerships and will help strengthen these industries across the province. Supporting Ontario’s creative industries is part of the McGuinty government’s plan to strengthen the economy and create good jobs for families.

“The McGuinty government is committed to strengthening Ontario’s economy through job creation and positive partnerships,” said Michael Chan, Minister of Tourism, Culture and Sport. “With our support, Ontario’s creative and entertainment sectors continue to innovate, collaborate and compete globally, ensuring the province’s place as a forerunner in new and evolving markets.”

“The Partnerships Fund encourages innovation and fosters new business partnerships that encourage growth across Ontario’s creative media industries and academic institutions,” added Karen Thorne-Stone, President & Chief Executive Officer, Ontario Media Development Corporation. “By supporting the cluster, we are helping to ensure that Ontario plays a leading role on the competitive world stage.”

QUICK FACTS

• Ontario’s entertainment and creative cluster employs almost 300,000 people in highly skilled jobs that contribute $12.2 billion annually to the province’s GDP.
• Since 2003, creative-industry jobs have increased by 12 per cent — representing 23,000 new jobs.
• Since its inception in 2006, the Entertainment and Creative Cluster Partnerships Fund has supported 94 projects involving 576 partners with total budgets of $38.3 million.
• The Fund is administered by the Ontario Media Development Corporation on behalf of the government.

“I consider this to be such a serious issue that I have organized a public symposium and launched a new website, Real Privacy, to broaden awareness and educate Canadians, in an effort to improve the legislation before it is re-introduced,” said Dr. Ann Cavoukian, Information and Privacy Commissioner of Ontario.

“In my view, this legislation represents a looming system of ‘Surveillance by Design,’ that should concern us all in a free and democratic society. Taken together, these ‘lawful access’ bills will provide the police with much greater ability to access and track information on us all, via the communications technologies that we use every day, such as the Internet, smart phones, and other mobile devices, in some circumstances, without a warrant or judicial oversight.”

The new website, Real Privacy, includes:

• background information on proposed lawful access legislation such as relevant media articles, key letters, and editorials;
• proposed solutions on how the federal government can improve the legislation to respect privacy while also enhancing security; and
• a new Write My MP tool by which individuals can easily share their concerns with their Member of Parliament and urge the government to reconsider the proposed laws. We are inviting members of the public to write to the MPs, raising their concerns and asking them to question the proposed legislation.

Beware of “Surveillance by Design:” Standing Up for Freedom and Privacy

To discuss the implications of the proposed bills, our Office will be holding a symposium on Friday, January 27, from 9:00am to 11:00am ET at the MaRS Discovery Centre in downtown Toronto. Everyone is invited to attend (event details here). The following highly respected thought leaders will share their unique perspectives on this hot topic:

• Dr. Ann Cavoukian, Information and Privacy Commissioner, Ontario, Canada;
• Professor John Villasenor, The Brookings Institution and UCLA;
• Dr. Ron Deibert, Professor, Political Science, University of Toronto;
• John Ibbitson, Ottawa Bureau Chief, Globe and Mail;
• Nathalie Des Rosiers, General Counsel, Canadian Civil Liberties Association;
• David Fraser, Lead, McInnes Cooper Privacy Practice Group.

The Commissioner’s theme for the Symposium is, “Give me Real Privacy now, not Privacy Theatre,” and she will expand upon this during her talk.

For those wishing to attend virtually, this symposium will be webcast live and fully archived.

This event is also being held to celebrate International Privacy Day, marking 31 years since the first binding international convention on privacy came into force.

The information return types that can be submitted include T3, T4, T4A, T4A-NR, T4E, T4RIF, T4RSP, T5, T5007, T5008, T5018 and NR4.

Important facts

• Simple – eliminates the need to send paper copies of your Information return to the CRA by filing them online.
• Convenient – this online, interactive service requires no software. All you do is enter the data online into the fields provided.
• Secure- the Web Forms online service will let you:
  • file original, additional, amended, and cancelled slips directly from the CRA Web site;
  • create an electronic information return;
  • validate data in real time, with prompts to correct errors before filing;
  • calculate the totals for the summary; and
  • save and print slips.
• Fast – immediately after you securely submit your encrypted return over the Internet, you will get a confirmation of receipt.

To use the Web Forms

You should receive your access code for the Web Forms application by the end of January. If you have not received or have misplaced your Web access code, you can retrieve it online.

You can also file your information return through the My Business Account service using either Web Forms or the Internet file transfer application without a Web access code. My Business Account will keep you up to date by allowing you to check the status of your return, view your account balance and transactions, and more.

On the weekend before Christmas, 424 (Transport and Rescue) Squadron, 8 Wing Trenton pilots Major Daniel Bouchard, Captains Gillian Parker and Greg Dujean as well as loadmaster Master Corporal Colm Canavan, flight engineer Warrant Officer Mark Kovacic and air combat systems operators Maj Bill Snyder and Capt Jim Wilson transported several pallets of new toys and goods valued at more than $80,000 to Iqaluit and Yellowknife.  The gifts were to be distributed by “Santa” from the Royal Canadian Mounted Police.

RCMP G Division commanding officer Wade Black and 440 (T) Sqn deputy commanding officer, Maj Darran Leaker, stand with members of the Santa CC-130 Hercules in Yellowknife. Photo from RCAF site

These gifts to underprivileged children in the North were made possible through the generous contributions of volunteers and supporters from Toronto through the Toys for the North project, which is an initiative of the Toronto Santa Claus Parade committee.

“It was a great honour for the RCMP to represent Toronto’s generosity by distributing the toys to the far reaching communities which we proudly serve and protect,” said Sergeant Greg Sutherland, a Mountie serving in Nunavut.

“We would like to thank the Royal Canadian Air Force for helping us bring the toys and goods up North,” said Sergeant Wes Heron, RCMP Northwest Territories. “Their assistance was vital in getting all these gifts to Iqaluit and Yellowknife.”

Major Bouchard said the RCAF received the request from the RCMP and the crew was “happy to assist during our routine flights to the North.  We were privileged to support this initiative that aims to bring smiles to children living north of 60.”

For Capt Parker, being a “reindeer” for Santa this holiday season was a wonderful experience. “It was heartwarming to know that we helped make this Christmas a memorable one for children up here,” he said. “I was glad to be part of it.”

L to R: RCMP Staff Sergeant Major Al McCambridge, Inspector Jamie Zettler, Inspector Dave Elliot and commanding officer Wade Blake from G Division RCMP, stand with Maj Darren Leaker, and MWO Brad Marriott of 440(T) Sqn in front of the Santa CC-130 Hercules upon their arrival in Yellowknife. Photo from RCAF web site

MCpl Canavan said he was honoured to part of 8 Wing’s “reindeer” team. “Not everyone gets a chance to be closely working with Santa,” said MCpl Canavan with a smile. “Loading Santa’s supply is a fantastic story that I was excited to share with my family and friends this Christmas.”

The Toronto Santa Claus Parade committee has been organizing the Toys for the North initiative for the last two years. With the support of the RCAF, this initiative was a collaborative effort between many community members, elders, volunteers, charitable organizations, the RCMP, other police services, and government representatives, with the intent of bringing smiles to underprivileged children.

“We have a special connection with Santa because our Canadian Forces Station Alert in the Arctic is located about 800 kilometres from Santa’s home,” said MCpl Canavan.

(1) Under their policies Canada ranks embarrassingly low in terms of quality and outrageously high in terms of prices of Internet, phone and television services compared to many third-world countries.

(2) CRTC staff (many former Bell or Rogers employees) are enmeshed with the large telecom corporations and industry lobby groups hence their decisions protect the market share and profitability of the Telecomm giants.

(3) The relaxed regulations have allowed telecomm companies to grow into dangerously big and diversified (Internet, television, radio, printed) media behemoths. The end result is that lately they make or break political campaigns at will as we’ve seen during last year’s elections.

Michael Nicula, the party’s founder has stated that “Since the current political establishment is not helping and major media is owned by the telecomm giants, OPC is calling on Canadians to take political action via Internet by commenting, voting and sharing the many telecomm-related issues on our website – the only way of fighting the system effectively”.

The Online Party of Canada is a new federal political party pending registration, offering a modern, direct-democracy political alternative. The Party promotes continuous ‘referendum-like’ online voting based on issues, not parties, platforms or individuals. Our elected officials are legally bound to act based on the majority vote on every issue – the first and only political party that enforces accountability.

The Online Party of Canada hosts a political talk show titled The Dash Show  has aired 11 episodes released thus  far, including one on Canada’s Digital Economy.

“The Poster Challenge is a wonderful opportunity for our young people to express what Canada means to them and to share their creativity with their peers across the country,” said Minister Moore. “This year, participants are invited to create a poster showing how people from different backgrounds and regions joined forces to fight for Canada during the War of 1812.”

A single finalist from all age categories combined will be chosen in each province and territory. A national winner will then be selected from the 13 provincial and territorial finalists. The winning design will become the official poster of the 2012 Celebrate Canada festivities throughout the country.

From June to September 2012, the artwork of the 13 provincial and territorial finalists will be on display at the Canadian Children’s Museum, which is part of the Canadian Museum of Civilization in Gatineau, Quebec.

Prizes will also be presented to the 52 winners, by age category, by the 2012 Poster Challenge sponsors: the Parks Canada Agency, the Trans Canada Trail, Encounters with Canada, Canada Post, the Royal Canadian Mint, and the Canadian Museum of Civilization.

Entry rules and additional resources can be found on the 2012 Canada Day Poster Challenge website. The deadline for entering the contest is March 9, 2012.

As part of his preparations, Santa passed the regular medical tests required for all pilots who want to get and keep their license. According to Mrs. Claus, Santa’s been very busy and has managed to burn off some excess calories while working with his elves on the huge amount of toys requested this year. She sent us this text message today from the North Pole:

“I’m very happy Santa has passed these latest tests. I made sure he focused on his tasks, not emptying the cookie jar or surfing the Web too much, lol. He’s right on schedule and really pumped about his annual trip around the world to deliver toys.”

Happily, Santa also passed the test to demonstrate his flying ability and knowledge. Like all pilots, he must pass this test using a flight simulator or with a check ride where a pilot inspector rides along. So this morning, at the Transport Canada hangar at the Ottawa International Airport, Santa Claus switched off his mobile device and successfully completed a series of takeoffs and landings with the help of his very fit reindeer.

Earlier this month, a Transport Canada inspector travelled to the North Pole to inspect Santa’s sleigh and its safety system. The inspector checked the harnesses, landing gear and state-of-the-art equipment, and reminded Santa about the importance of just saying no to a pre-flight nip of rum and eggnog. He was also reminded how important it is for pilots to get some rest and do detailed pre-flight checks that include looking for ice buildups and informing all crew and passengers about safety measures.

In addition, Santa’s gift bag — full of presents for boys and girls — was checked using the latest screening technology to ensure it is secure and ready for delivery.

Now that Santa has passed his medical and flight tests, and the cargo is secured, he is once again ready to take to the skies safely. Millions of children can sleep easy knowing that Santa is fully prepared to make his most important trip of the year this holiday season!

Boys and girls can follow Santa as he makes his way across the planet, through the NORAD Tracks Santa website, through Google Earth and Google Maps as well as through social media channels  Facebook, Google+ or Twitter and the mobile apps available for iOS and Android devices.

Embark on a culinary journey through Canada’s rich history and across Canada’s vast territory by trying out the recipes – which have been updated for modern cooks – and reading the stories in this app.

Features:

• Choose from over 60 recipes, each with a stunning photograph of the finished dish.
• Browse recipes from the 18th century to today, representing all of Canada’s regions.
• Enjoy traditional recipes that have been tested and modified for today’s cooks, with both imperial and metric measures by the School of Hospitality and Tourism at Algonquin College.
• Search or browse by ingredient, course, menu, period or region.
• Save recipes to your personal recipe collection.
• Add ingredients to your Shopping List to bring with you to the grocery store.
• Email recipes to friends and family.
• Cook traditional favourites like Acadan Bouilli, West Coast Finnan Haddie and Newfoundland’s Jiggs Dinner.
• Enjoy national historic site tried-and-true favourites like the Fortress of Louisbourg’s French Soldier’s Bread, Woodside’s Marmalade or Lower Fort Garry’s famous Corn Bread
• Try out recipes like Bannock, Luski and Sourdough Flapjacks that were originally cooked over an outdoor fire.
• Cook an entire meal using one of the menus.
• Learn a story about each recipe – tell your dinner guests or family which notable Canadian enjoyed a particular dish, how a dish got its name or which 18th century cookbook a recipe first came from.
• Watch a behind-the-scenes video of the chefs and photographers at work.
• See a video of chefs creating an 18th century dessert using today’s ingredients.
• Find out about the national historic site of Canada that submitted the recipe and start to plan your next culinary adventure.

Heritage Gourmet is available free for iPhone, iPad & iPod and Android, with a version for Blackberry smartphones coming soon. All of the recipes and associated content are available on the Parks Canada web site.

Spending on local programming had stagnated and even declined due to, among other things, the fragmentation of television audiences and the decline in advertising revenues.  This risked harming both the quality and the quantity of local programs.

Since 2009, cable and satellite companies have been contributing 1.5% of their gross broadcasting revenues to the fund. As a result, by the end of 2012, it will have distributed more than $300 million to more than 75 local stations throughout the country. To be eligible, stations must broadcast local programming that includes news.

The Commission had announced its intention to review the fund in its third year of operation. This review will provide for determining whether the fund should be maintained, modified or cancelled. The Commission is seeking comments on the following topics:

• evaluation of the fund’s objectives and the performance of recipient stations;
• additional spending on local programming as a condition for receiving funding;
• eligibility for the fund and the funding allocation formula;
• cable and satellite companies’ contributions to the fund; and
• the relevance of maintaining, modifying or abandoning the fund.

Anyone interested may submit comments by February 15, 2012 by:

• completing the on-line form
• writing to the Secretary General, CRTC, Ottawa, Ontario  K1A 0N2; or
• sending a fax to 819-994-0218.

A public hearing will begin on April 16, 2012 in Gatineau.  If you would like to appear before the CRTC, you must indicate your interest in doing so in your written comments. It will also be possible to participate in the hearing from the Commission’s regional offices, via teleconferencing. For more information on how to participate, please see the notice of consultation.

Reference Documents:

• Broadcasting Notice of Consultation CRTC 2011-788
• Broadcasting Regulatory Policy CRTC 2011-455
• Broadcasting Regulatory Policy CRTC 2010-167
• Broadcasting Regulatory Policy CRTC 2009-406
• Broadcasting Regulatory Policy CRTC 2008-100

First to welcome Santa will be pilots Captains Gregory Myers and Aaron Dhillon of 425 Tactical Fighter Squadron who will launch from 3 Wing Bagotville, as the sleigh approaches Canadian airspace. Taking over escort duties as Santa makes his way into Western Canada will be the Commanding Officer of 410 Tactical Fighter Squadron, Lieutenant Colonel Christopher Hamilton, and his wingman for this mission will be Captain Corey Mask of 4 Wing Cold Lake.

The Canadian Air Defence Sector Operations Centre at 22 Wing in North Bay will alert NORAD when their radar and satellite systems detect Santa approaching North America. The two CF-18 Hornet fighter jets from 3 Wing will welcome Santa off the coast of Newfoundland and Labrador, then handover their duties as he nears western Canada to the two CF-18 Hornets from 4 Wing who will escort him ensure for the remainder of his Christmas voyage.

Special NORAD ‘SantaCams’, positioned around the world, will take photos and video of Santa and his sleigh as he journeys around the world. The ‘SantaCams’ instantly download the photo and video imagery so that it may be viewed by children worldwide on the NORAD Tracks Santa website on December 24.

Starting at midnight MST on Dec. 24, website visitors can watch Santa as he makes all the preparations for his flight. Then, at 4 a.m. MST (6 a.m. EST), trackers worldwide can talk to a live phone operator to inquire about Santa’s whereabouts by dialing the toll-free number 1-877-Hi-NORAD (1-877-446-6723) or by sending an email. NORAD’s “Santa Cams” will also stream videos as Santa makes his way over various locations worldwide. Last year on Christmas Eve alone, NORAD “Santa Trackers” answered thousands of telephone calls and emails over a 25-hour period.

NORAD is a bi-national United States and Canadian organization, charged with the missions of aerospace warning and aerospace control for North America. NORAD performs its mission 365 days per year, but on Christmas Eve, NORAD performs an additional mission – tracking Santa around the world.

Thousands of homes that have been deprived of high-speed Internet will now have access to Videotron’s advanced 4G mobile network and will be able to enjoy an enhanced experience powered by high-quality, reliable, state-of-the-art technology. The Wireless Internet service supports speeds of 1.5 mbps, 25 times faster than dial-up, with a download limit of 10 GB, the equivalent of a hundred hours of browsing and 20 hours of online gaming. Videotron Wireless Internet service is made for today’s world, in which email and Web searches are part of everyday life.

Videotron Wireless Internet service costs $37.95 per month. The equipment – a small outdoor antenna and a modem/router – is installed by a Videotron professional technician, at a cost of $149.95. Customers will be able to count on Videotron’s expertise and 24/7 technical support. For more information and the full list of municipalities where the service is available, visit the Videotron web site or call 1 88 VIDEOTRON.

This arrangement was garnered with Scalar Decisions, Canada’s leading IT solutions integrator, as the contracting agent for the agreement with order fulfillment responsibility for the Infoblox products to Government of Canada departments and agencies.

The award qualifies virtual versions of the Infoblox solutions for deployment in Government of Canada network infrastructures. The Supply Arrangement number is EN578-100808/020/EE.

“Increased mobility and the adoption of virtualization and cloud computing require a new dynamic and automated approach to network infrastructure services, ranging from assignment of IP addresses to monitoring configuration changes,” said Craig Workman, General Manager at Scalar Decisions. “Infoblox solutions provide the essential automation needed in today’s networks and this SLSA award will enable Infoblox, along with other partners, to engage more quickly with many Canadian government sectors.”

Infoblox solutions deliver essential network services, such as IP address assignment and domain name system (DNS) resolution, and management capabilities that connect users and IP-enabled devices to networks and applications. For more than 5,000 enterprises and service providers worldwide, Infoblox solutions are essential for maintaining their online presence, digital communication and transactions, ranging from email and stock trades to retail purchases and eLearning programs, among others. In addition, Infoblox is continually raising the bar with solutions designed to meet forthcoming IPv6, DNSSEC, virtualization and cloud initiatives.

“Canadians are sharing lots of information online when they use social media, buy goods and services and engage in activities like gaming and chatting,” says FCAC Commissioner, Ursula Menke. “But as more personal data is disclosed, unfortunately more is also being stolen. It is important that Canadians are aware of not only how this information can be stolen, but how they can protect themselves.”

FCAC has recently updated its anti-fraud resources to provide consumers with more information on how online fraud can occur. For example, fraudsters often steal information from people using social networking tools or public wireless Internet access (also called Wi-Fi), which is typically offered for free in locations such as coffee shops, hotel lobbies and airports.

Some of the more common ways that people expose themselves to fraud include:

• using public or unsecured wireless Internet
• sharing too much on social networking sites
• entering personal information on unsecure or fake websites
• downloading viruses, spyware or malware, programs designed to damage or do unwanted things on your computer
• allowing a computer to save a password or personal information
• creating an online profile that includes credit card or banking information
• saving passwords on a computer in a file that has not been encrypted, or protected by a key or password.

Fraudsters are trying to get any information they can find about you. Your personal details may not be harmful on their own, but once they are combined, a fraudster can build a profile, steal your identity and access your financial accounts.

How to reduce your risks

• Do not post your home address, telephone number, children’s names, names of schools or employers, or specific details about when you will be absent from home on business trips or vacations.
• If you post your birthday, do not include your year of birth.
• Use different passwords for different applications like social networking sites, email, online banking, etc. Change your passwords often.
• Only use secure Internet access when you access social networking sites. Make sure there is a lock symbol in the browser window and that the site’s address begins with “https” (the “s” stands for secured).
• Do not use public Wi-Fi hotspots to link to your social networking pages.
• Use the social networking site’s enhanced privacy settings and only allow approved people to access your profile.
• Do not accept friend requests from people you do not know.

What to do if you become a victim

• Start a written log: write down when you noticed the fraud and the actions you took, including names of people you spoke to and dates of communications.
• File a report with your local police.
• Contact your financial institutions and any other companies (for example, phone company, cable provider, etc.) where your accounts were tampered with, or are at risk of being tampered with.
• Advise Canada’s two credit rating agencies, TransUnion and Equifax.
• Contact the Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre and learn more at the website Get Cyber Safe.

“Our government has responded to the specific needs of small businesses in southern Ontario with this initiative,” said Minister Goodyear. “To date, more than 300 companies have partnered with colleges and universities to develop market-driven ideas, and with the funding announced today, hundreds more businesses will be able to innovate and grow.”

Since its launch in 2010 as a two-year pilot, the Applied Research and Commercialization initiative has supported 24 colleges, universities and polytechnics across southern Ontario to work with the private sector to bring new products to the marketplace faster. The extension, with funding of up to $15 million, will enable these 24 post-secondary institutions to apply for additional support to assist even more businesses while their current projects are being completed and evaluated.

Under the Applied Research and Commercialization Initiative, UOIT has partnered with small and medium-sized businesses on activities such as applied research, engineering design, technology development, product testing, and certification.

“The partnerships between the University of Ontario Institute of Technology and 13 small and medium-sized businesses are excellent examples of what is being done to stimulate innovation in southern Ontario,” said MP Carrie. “We look forward to seeing Oshawa and surrounding areas prosper as a result of these projects.”

“Strategic research funding supports our ability to help build economic capacity and foster important, innovative collaborations involving local businesses, our researchers and students,” said Dr. Tim McTiernan, UOIT President. “On behalf of UOIT, I would like to thank the Government of Canada for their investment in the development of these applied research projects. Working together, we are able to pair business with research expertise. This provides our students with rich learning opportunities, while exploring the development of new innovations and products that have the potential to grow business and benefit society.”

The Applied Research and Commercialization Initiative helps small and medium-sized businesses in southern Ontario access applied research and development and pre-commercialization expertise found in post-secondary institutions. FedDev Ontario is providing the University of Ontario Institute of Technology with up to $739,000 to partner on projects with the following 13 businesses:

Aquavion – Ajax
The Cableshoppe – Toronto
Drinkbox Studios – Toronto
Durmach – Bowmanville
Enginuity Group Corporation – Toronto
Enviroquest – Cambridge
Innovative Solutions – Oshawa
Marnoch Thermal Power Inc. – Port Severn
Nessis – Hampton
Phirelight Security Solutions Inc. – Ottawa
Segasist Technologies – Toronto
Solana Networks – Nepean
Unitrak – Port Hope

“Canadians shouldn’t be forced to subscribe to a wireless service from a specific company to access their favourite content,” said Konrad von Finckenstein, Q.C., Chairman of the CRTC. “Healthy and fair competition between service providers will promote greater choice for Canadians.”

Today’s decision was triggered by a complaint filed by Telus Communications after it had unsuccessfully attempted to negotiate for the rights owned exclusively by Bell Mobility. The NHL content in question includes games and video highlights, while the NFL content includes prime-time games, all playoff games (including the Super Bowl) and access to NFL Network programming.

Bell Mobility must file a report within 30 days explaining how it will ensure that Telus has access to its NHL and NFL content at reasonable terms.

This ruling was made pursuant to the CRTC’s new media exemption order, which prohibits undue preference, a notion that was further elaborated in the recent vertical integration policy.

Reference Documents:

Broadcasting Order CRTC 2009-660

News release, “CRTC takes action to ensure a wide choice of television programming on all platforms,” September 21, 2011

Broadcasting Regulatory Policy CRTC 2011-601

Portage & Main Press, Fernwood Publishing, Great Plains Publications, and Turnstone Press will receive financial support to ensure that readers everywhere continue to have access to talented Canadian authors.

“Our Government received a strong mandate from Canadians to invest in our economy,” said Minister Moore. “By supporting these publishers, our Government is delivering on its commitment to create jobs and support our arts, culture, and heritage in Canada.”

“Organizations such as these publishers ensure Canadians can access quality Canadian content and discover new voices,” said Minister Toews. “Our Government is proud to support them.”

“Portage & Main Press relies on the Canada Book Fund to help it innovate, compete, and produce unique Canadian content in a challenging marketplace,” said Catherine Gerbasi, Publisher. “Thank you, Canada Book Fund!”

The Government of Canada has provided funding to the following publishers through the Support for Publishers stream of the Canada Book Fund (CBF):

• Portage & Main Press – $144,047 (2011-2012)
• Fernwood Publishing – $115,526 (2011-2012)
• Great Plains Publications – $36,309 (2011-2012)
• Turnstone Press – $12,543 (2011-2012)

The main objective of the CBF is to ensure access to a diverse range of Canadian-authored books in Canada and abroad. The Fund seeks to achieve this objective by fostering a strong Canadian book industry that publishes and markets Canadian-authored books.

“We believe it is essential to develop measures that address the greatest challenge facing our industry today – bringing innovations to market, stated Nicole Martel, CEO of AQT. Urgent action is needed to achieve new heights in growth.”

Quebec Government support over the last decade, provided through R&D assistance programs, has allowed businesses in our sector to develop solutions that have helped them establish a global reputation for innovation. However, if a company is to succeed on the market, it must be prepared to invest several times more in the marketing phase than it did in the R&D phase.

“Sixty percent of companies never make it to the growth phase. This means that, in most cases, start-up funding provided by the Quebec government and both private and institutional investors leads to a dead end!” explained Michel Lacasse, Chairman of the AQT Board of Directors.

Consequently, in its capacity as industry spokesperson, the AQT recommends the following measures for both local and international markets:

• The introduction of fiscal measures to help bring innovations to market would allow companies to optimize the impact of private and public funding by developing and deploying sustained marketing strategies, and investing in marketing and sales.
• These measures could include R&D credit extensions or even venture loans to maximize direct and indirect benefits for taxpayers.

The ICT industry is a jewel of the Quebec economy. Companies in this sector are active across every sphere of economic activity and employ more than 130,000 people.

“The use of online behavioural advertising has exploded and we’re concerned that Canadians’ privacy rights aren’t always being respected,” says Commissioner Stoddart, who launched the guidelines in a speech to the Marketing and the Law Conference in Toronto.

“Many Canadians don’t know how they’re being tracked – and that’s no surprise because, in too many cases, they have to dig down to the bottom of a long and legalistic privacy policy to find out.”

The new guidance document says information about behavioural advertising should be clear, obvious and understandable.  Accepting participation in online behavioural advertising should not be considered a condition for people to use the Internet generally.  People must be able to easily opt out of this practice.

“Some people like receiving ads targeted to their specific interests.  Others are extremely uncomfortable with the notion of their online activities being tracked.  People’s choices must be respected,” says Commissioner Stoddart.

She also flagged some important restrictions when it comes to online behavioural advertising.

“If an individual can’t say no to the technology being used for tracking or targeting, then the industry shouldn’t use that technology for behavioural advertising purposes,” she told the advertising industry conference.  “So, in the current online behavioural advertising environment, that means no use of web bugs or web beacons, no super cookies, no pixel hacks, no device fingerprinting and no to any new covert tracking technique of which the user is unaware and has no reasonable way to decline.”

Another restricted area involves the online tracking of children.  The guidelines state that organizations should avoid knowingly tracking children and tracking on websites aimed at children.

“Children are not likely able to provide the meaningful consent required under our privacy law for the tracking of their online activities.  This is an increasingly important issue as we see the average age of first-time Internet users dropping,” says the Commissioner.

The guidelines also say advertisers should avoid collecting other sensitive information, such as individuals’ health information.

Commissioner Stoddart says her Office developed the guidance document to help organizations involved in online behavioural advertising ensure their practices are fair and transparent and in compliance with Canada’s federal private-sector privacy law, the Personal Information Protection and Electronic Documents Act, or PIPEDA.

“The approach we’re taking – as prescribed under Canadian law – is reasonable.  It allows industry to be innovative and to grow while respecting individuals’ right to privacy.”