Retour à l’actualité complète

BY ROBERT GHIZ

With a federal election now upon us, Canada stands at a critical juncture. Already grappling with rising costs and lagging productivity, our nation now faces the added challenge of escalating international trade tensions. These tensions are expected to lead to higher consumer prices, slower economic growth, job losses, and an uncertain business environment that hinders investment.

Canadians are known for their resilience and resourcefulness. However, as we look to the future, it’s not just the character of our people that will shape our nation, but also the policies set by our next federal government. These policies will be crucial in diversifying our economy and ensuring Canada’s future prosperity, security, and self-reliance.

Telecommunications networks are the backbone of modern society, and play a crucial role in Canada’s economy, security, and sovereignty. In 2023, Canada’s telecommunications sector added nearly $81 billion in GDP to the Canadian economy and supported almost 782,000 jobs across various industries. Enhanced connectivity, including the rollout of 5G networks, is projected to deliver an additional $112 billion to Canada’s GDP by 2035.

The sector has also delivered direct benefits to individual Canadians and families through a steady decline in consumer prices. According to Statistics Canada, over the past five years ending in January 2025, the cost of cellular and internet services decreased by 46.3% and 6%, respectively. In contrast, the consumer price index for all goods in Canada rose by 18%, with significant price increases observed in gasoline (36.7%), energy (29.4%), food (21.8%) and shelter (27.3%).

During this period of declining prices, Canada’s telecom network operators have been making annual investments of over $12 billion in delivering expanded coverage, faster network speeds and increased reliability. These investments also positively impact labour productivity. Access to high quality, affordable telecommunications services enables Canadian businesses and workers to leverage advanced digital tools and the latest innovations, thereby boosting productivity and competitiveness on a global scale. A continuously advancing digital economy is essential for improving productivity and enabling economic growth.

Investing in telecommunications networks is also crucial for protecting Canada’s security and sovereignty. Secure and resilient telecom infrastructure ensures that critical communications, including those of government agencies, emergency services, and the military, remain uninterrupted and protected from cyber threats. This is vital for national security, enabling a coordinated response to crises and safeguarding sensitive information.

However, the telecom sector’s capacity to invest in network infrastructure is under significant pressure. Increasing and costly regulatory hurdles, high borrowing costs, declining prices, and increased network expenses are creating a challenging business environment. It is crucial for the new federal government to eliminate and avoid regulations that stifle innovation and investment. Prioritizing policies that enhance the telecommunications sector’s capacity to invest in expanding and strengthening network infrastructure is essential.

Telecom networks are indispensable to Canada’s economic resilience, growth, security and sovereignty. As geopolitical and international trade tensions intensify, investing in robust and secure telecom infrastructure is not just a sector priority but a fundamental requirement for safeguarding Canada’s future. With the right policies in place, Canada can navigate the complexities our country is facing and emerge stronger and more self-reliant.

Robert Ghiz is the President and CEO of the Canadian Telecommunications Association and was previously Premier of Prince Edward Island.

[Op-Ed originally published by The Hill Times, March 31, 2025]