jobs
In today’s world it doesn’t matter if the job you’re seeking is high tech or low tech. Whether you’re applying for a position as team leader at RIM or just looking for work digging ditches, odds are your newspaper will direct you to apply online through Workopolis or the like.
government
Filing an Income Tax Return? The Canada Revenue Agency (the federal agency formerly known as Revenue Canada) wants you to e-file your tax return. Makes sense; I’m sure the physical printing and distribution cost of printing up millions of income tax booklets every year cost them a fortune. Online filing is far more economical for our government. Expecting a refund? They prefer direct deposit, Same deal; saves them vast amounts of money.
[Some branches of government lose track of the fact that ALL government spending comes directly out of the taxpayer’s pocket. That’s you and me, hoss. Saving money is good for us, too.]
The Canadian Government has invested a substantial amount of money going online. Not only does this increased access make it easy for Canadians to find out about our government, or to find the right elected representatives to complain to, but importance of Canadian Law being available online cannot be underestimated.
finance
Banking? I don’t know about you, but my bank is trying really hard to convince me to go paperless. Less printing means lower overhead. Think they’ll lower our rates? Nawwww….
shopping
Searching for the elusive Beanie Baby missing from your collection? Or maybe you need someone to shovel your drive? Try Craigslist or Kijiji Because classified advertising is online.
Shopping for a big ticket item? You can house hunt online with the Canadian Multiple Listing Service. Follow the map, see the properties, and save a lot of time for both you and your realtor. Looking for wheels? These days every major auto manufacturer has a website with virtual tours of vehicles on offer. Even the Autotrader is online in today’s world.
Comparison shopping online helps narrow down where you’re going to go for junior’s new 2 wheeler or the bandsaw Aunt Aggie wants for her birthday.
news
When there’s a big explosion from the direction of the chemical plant it’s a lot safer to close your windows and check the news online to see if you have to evacuate.
But news isn’t just local anymore. The Internet makes it possible to read the news or watch news broadcasts from all over the world.
school
Checking the school board website to find out about bad weather bus cancellations/school closures is better than hoping you catch it on the radio while rushing to get kids off to school.
Don’t forget online assignments. Students are expected to do a fair amount of school work in digital formats. Schools, programs and course material are online. Kids in families without Internet access are at a huge disadvantage which is certainly not good for Canada.
retail
Small businesses in every field need an internet presence. A website is crucial and the Internet can help small businesses lower their overhead and increase their market just the same. The Internet levels the playing field, and thriving Canadian businesses can help build Canada’s reputation and strengthen our economy.
Canadians need to stop Usage Based Billing because it will negatively impact on all of these things and more.
When I first learned about Usage Based Billing last fall I began the public service blogStop UBB. As I have learned about the technical aspects of the issue I’ve explained what I’ve learned in an attempt to demystify the Internet and the UBB Issue, since it will have a serious impact on all Canadians. Because the mainstream news media (with the exception of CBC online) has been pretty silent on the issue, for the most part only computer professionals even know this is going to be a problem.
Most Canadians won’t find out until we’re hit with the grossly inflated bill.
Probably the best place to start is learning more is Stop UBB glossary, because it explains jargon in an attempt to make the issue intelligible to Canadian Internet Users. The StopUBB left sidebar has a complete Index to help reference the information.
An really important thing we can do is sign the online petition at
http://dissolvethecrtc.ca/
To fight UBB you can write to all the same politicians I’ve listed contact info for in the previous article about Canadian copyright Canada don’t need no stinkin’ DMCA
Whoa!Canada 