In response to an announcement from the Canadian government that it will develop a Digital Economy Strategy, The Entertainment Software Association of Canada (ESAC) has issued a list of recommendations which would “position Canada as a more competitive jurisdiction in which to invest.”
ESAC's suggestions are:
1. Include content industries at the heart of its digital strategy;
2. Recognize video game production as central to Canada’s digital economy;
3. Adopt a plan to develop and retain cutting edge talent;
4. Improve digital literacy through education and awareness;
5. Attract and retain foreign workers and eliminate barriers to labour mobility;
6. Generate new sources of capital and investment in commercialization;
7. Protect intellectual property through reform of the copyright system;
8. Create more affordable, accessible and faster digital infrastructure;
9. Foster free and open international trade; and
10. Carefully consider the impact of new regulations on the digital economy and examine the role of related government institutions.
ESAC Executive Director LaBossière Parr stated, “Canada has the potential to emerge as a world leader provided that we adopt forward-thinking strategies to increase our competitiveness and enact policies to support our digital industries.”
While Canada now claims it is the third-largest home to videogame developers in the world, the report does point out a few deficiencies, such as Internet access, increasing competition from other countries and lag in the ability “to turn knowledge into money-making products and services.”
ESAC goes into more detail for each of the points listed above in a PDF entitled Game On, Canada! Playing to Win in the Digital Economy.
