This article looks at policy options taken by the Canadian government in an age of globalization and information. A first part explores federal government initiatives pertaining to Canada's preparedness for the information society. A second part assesses some provincial government policy options, with a separate section paying special attention to the Quebec government's intentions, which include support for the production and online dissemination of content and services in the French language (undoubtedly to be understood as an element of the Quebec government's sovereigntist project).
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2.
Booz.Allen and Hamilton (1998) Benchmarkstudie elektronische diensten: Op weg naar de informatiemaatschappij. Internationaal vergelijkend onderzoek t.b.v. de herijking van het actieprogramma Elektronische Snelwegen. (Benchmark Study Electronic Services: On Our Way to the Information Society. Internationally Comparative Research with a View to the Reassessment of the Action Program Electronic Highways). The Hague: Booz.Allen and Hamilton.
3.
Campbell, D. and J. Stein (1999) `Globalization, Culture and Society: The State as Place amidst Shifting Spaces', Project on Trends. Ottawa: Policy Research Secretariat/Social Science and Humanities Research Council.
4.
Canada (1998) `Personal Information Protection and Electronic Document Act (Bill C54)', First Session, Thirty-Sixth Parliament, 46-7 Elizabeth II, 1997-8, URL: http://www.parl.gc.ca
5.
Clement, A. and L.R. Shade (1999) `Towards a National Access Strategy for Canada', paper presented at the `Citizens at the Crossroads: Whose Information Society?' Conference, University of Western Ontario, London, Ontario, 21-24 October.
6.
Commission de la Culture (1997) Inforoute, culture et démocratie: enjeux pour le Québec, Rapport final, May. Montreal: Assemblée Nationale du Québec, Secrétariat des Commissions.
7.
Comité Consultatif sur l'Autoroute de l'Information (1995, July) Inforoute Québec. Plan d'action pour la mise en oeuvre de l'autoroute de l'information. Montréal: Gouvernement du Québec.
8.
CRTC (Canadian Radio-Television and Telecommunications Commission) (1995) Competition and Culture on Canada's Information Highway: Managing the Realities of Transition. Ottawa: Public Works and Government Services Canada.
9.
d'Haenens, L. (1998) `Beyond Infrastructure. Europe, the United States and Canada on the Information Highway: Where Business and Culture Collide', pp. 237-254 in L. d'Haenens (ed.) Images of Canadianness. Visions on Canada's Politics, Culture, Economics. Ottawa: University of Ottawa Press.
10.
d'Haenens, L. (1999) `Beyond Infrastructure: Europe, the USA and Canada on the Information Highway', pp. 139-152 in J. Downey and J. McGuigan (eds) Technocities. London: Sage.
11.
Gouvernement du Québec (1998) Québec's Information Superhighway Policy, abridged version, 4 pp. Montréal: Gouvernement du Québec.
12.
Government of Canada (1995) Connection Community Content: The Challenge of the Information Highway. Final Report of the Information Highway Advisory Council. Ottawa: Minister of Supply and Services Canada.
13.
Graham, G. (1996) `What Community Networks Are All About', URL: http://www.tc.ca/allabout.html
14.
High Level Group on the Information Society (1996) Building the European Information Society for Us All.: DG V.
15.
Industry Canada (1994a) The Canadian Information Highway. Building Canada's Information and Communications Infrastructure, April. Ottawa: Spectrum, Information Technologies and Telecommunications Sector.
16.
Industry Canada (1994b) Privacy and the Canadian Information Highway. Building Canada's Information and Communications Infrastructure, October. Ottawa: Communications Development and Planning Branch, Spectrum, Information Technologies and Telecommunications Sector.
17.
Industry Canada (1999) `Canada's Regions and the Knowledge-Based Economy: A Compelling Journey to a Promising Future', Micro-Economic Monitor, September. Ottawa: Micro-Economic Policy Analysis Directorate.
18.
IHAC (Information Highway Advisory Council) (1994) Canada's Information Highway: Building Canada's Information and Communications Infrastructure. Providing New Dimensions for Learning, Creativity and Entrepreneurship. Progress Report, November. Ottawa: Minister of Supply and Services Canada.
19.
IHAC (Information Highway Advisory Council) Canadian Content and Culture Working Group (1995a) Ensuring a Strong Canadian Presence on the Information Highway. Ottawa: Minister of Supply and Services Canada.
20.
IHAC (Information Highway Advisory Council) (1995b) Making It Happen: Final Report of the Learning and Training Working Group, December. Ottawa: Minister of Supply and Services.
21.
IHAC (Information Highway Advisory Council) (1996) Building the Information Society: Moving Canada into the 21st Century. Ottawa: Minister of Supply and Services Canada.
22.
IHAC (Information Highway Advisory Council) (1997) Preparing Canada for a Digital World. Final Report of the Information Highway Advisory Council, 10 September. Ottawa: Industry Canada.
23.
SAI (Secrétariat de l'Autoroute de l'Information) (1996) Pour une stratégie de mise en oeuvre de l'autoroute de l'information au Québec, Document de travail et de consultation, April. Montreal: Gouvernement du Québec.
24.
Sirois, C. and C. Forget (1995). The Medium and the Muse. Culture, Telecommunications and the Information Highway. Montreal: The Institute for Research on Public Policy (IRPP).
25.
Speech from the Throne to Open the First Session' (1997) Thirty-Sixth Parliament of Canada, URL: http://www.parl.gc.ca/36/refmat/throne-e.htm
26.
Venne, M. (1997a) `Pour un accès gratuit aux lois sur Internet', Le Devoir 28 May.
27.
Venne, M. (1997b) `L'Inforoute et la démocratie', Le Devoir 29 May.
28.
Winseck, D. (1999) `Illusions of Perfect Information and Fantasies of Control in the Information Society', paper presented at the `Citizens at the Crossroads: Whose Information Society?' Conference, University of Western Ontario, London, Ontario, 21-24 October.
