Department of Industry, Trade and Technology

Initiatives Related to the Economic Renewal Plan
Backgrounder

Funding has been allocated in the 1996-97 budget for several significant new or expanded initiatives identified in the federal/provincial Economic Renewal Plan announced in the fall of 1995. They include the following:

• Operation ONLINE (Opportunities for Newfoundland and Labrador in the New Economy) - A public/private advisory council supported by a small secretariat was formed to provide recommendations on how to develop the information technology sector in the province. An implementation plan has been approved by the federal and provincial governments with primary objectives to (i) develop a dynamic, growing IT sector that includes a solid base of world- class IT, small to medium-sized enterprises to develop new products and services and to create new jobs over the next 5 years and (ii) maximize the enabling effects of IT through universal access and high level adoption of IT in all facets of public and private sector activity. A number of programs funded under the ERP have been developed to pursue stated objectives.
• Distance Education - By necessity, Newfoundland has grown to be a recognized national leader in the development of new applications in the area of distance education. Unfortunately, very few distance education products/and or services developed in the Province are market ready. Funding has been provided under the ERP to promote and commercialize the province's distance education capabilities. It is anticipated that funding will be provided to help local companies and organizations further develop or refine existing products. Funds will also be allocated to help market the Province's capabilities. This initiative will be of significant benefit to local hardware and software companies and organizations such as TETRA, Open Learning and Information Network (OLIN) and Stem~net.
• Canadian Centre for Marine Communications (CCMC) - Funding will be made available through the ERP to assist in the long term operation of CCMC, as it moves toward self-sufficiency. It is anticipated that CCMC will also have a significant role to play in other marine ERP projects. CCMC will also be the delivery agency for a proposed marine geomatics program, which if approved will be funded by the R&D block fund of the Offshore Development Fund. Although this facility is national in scope, provincial high tech companies gain significant benefit from having the facility in the Province. It is anticipated that these initiatives will help stimulate continued growth in the province's marine IT sector.