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Minster Emerson's speech in Halifax in September clearly states Industry Canada's priority to complete the job of making sure every community can access broadband connectivity when required. This position complements the Assembly of First Nations Chiefs' Resolution No. 65/2004 - FIRST NATION TELECOMMUNICATION TECHNOLOGIES AND BROADBAND INFRASTRUCTURE - http://www.afn.ca/resolutions/2004/res65.htm of working with Industry Canada's First Nation SchoolNet Regional Management Organizations and getting broadband to all First Nations.

Below is a portion of that speech ... for the entire speech visit http://www.ic.gc.ca/cmb/welcomeic.nsf/0/85256a5d006b97208525707c004a80f4?OpenDocument

"Our central vision is clear for all of us. We need to drive science… technology… and innovation… deep into every corner of every region and every sector…manufacturing, natural resources, services…both public and private.

That is my obsession as Industry Minister, and I want it to be front and centre in the Government of Canada's agenda.

It isn't going to be easy! It requires focused engagement by millions of Canadians, each adapting in their own way to their own unique circumstances. From the Government of Canada's point of view, there is no single “magic solution”… no silver bullet. But that doesn't mean we don't know what needs to be done. We do know.

We know government has to provide people with the necessary tools, with a supportive working and living environment, and with critical infrastructure to support a successful modern economy.

We need to equip people with the knowledge and the skills required to tap into the global knowledge pool.

We need to encourage entrepreneurs and equip people with management skills to enable them to become innovators, innovators who consistently find new ways of turning knowledge into wealth.

We need to continue to grow our critical mass of Canadian research capacity…we need to join with the world's best to push the frontiers of scientific exploration.

And we need the critical infrastructure of a globally connected economy.

For example, telecommunications and broadband technology are the most transformative technologies of our generation. They allow people anywhere to use their abilities to the fullest, for their own satisfaction and enrichment, but also to the great benefit of their communities, and of Canada.

We must also ensure that the physical infrastructure of our cities is of the highest standard. In today's global economy, our urban centres must compete with others around the world.

Compete for skilled people and for investment dollars. ...

A second critical priority at Industry Canada relates to the telecommunications sector.

Information and communications technologies — or ICT — represent the single largest contributor to productivity and competitive improvements in recent years … accounting for approximately 75 percent of productivity gains.

But evidence shows we're still falling short of the U.S.

Here again we have appointed an expert panel to report by year-end on changes to the way the sector is regulated. While the panel is reviewing the regulatory framework Industry Canada is in the final stages of developing a strategy for the broader ICT sector.

Canada has shown real leadership in supporting and providing the electronic infrastructure required to fully participate in the global information economy.

We've extended broadband to hundreds of Canadian communities and we've supported super broadband connectivity among schools, universities and research organizations in Canada and internationally.

Unfortunately, while we rank high internationally, recently we've been slipping.

It is absolutely essential that broadband access be extended further into remote and isolated communities. Without Internet access today, a community is simply not able to join the economic mainstream, or even to fully access opportunities for health care and education.

We need to finish the job, here in Atlantic Canada and across the country.