{"id":3680,"date":"2025-02-18T16:57:24","date_gmt":"2025-02-18T16:57:24","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/ifsd.ca\/?p=3680"},"modified":"2025-02-25T15:01:19","modified_gmt":"2025-02-25T15:01:19","slug":"discussion-summary-roundtable-on-information-and-communication-infrastructure-resiliency","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/ifsd.ca\/fr\/2025\/02\/discussion-summary-roundtable-on-information-and-communication-infrastructure-resiliency\/","title":{"rendered":"Information and Communication Infrastructure Resiliency: Summary of an expert roundtable"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p>Download full summary <a href=\"https:\/\/ifsd.ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/2025-02-17_summary_Final.pdf\">here<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Connectivity infrastructure, such as mobile and broadband connectivity, is critical infrastructure. Evolving environmental and geopolitical risks mean that Canada\u2019s connectivity infrastructure is becoming increasingly vulnerable to disasters, such as, wildfires, and cyber threats. This poses a challenge as connectivity disruptions can result in significant cascading costs and repercussions. Consider the 2022 Rogers outage which disrupted public services, payment processing, emergency service calls, etc. The incident was a stark reminder of the potentially far-reaching impacts of telecommunication service disruptions. Minimizing these impacts requires coordinated efforts from both the public and private sectors to engage in comprehensive planning and <a href=\"#Emergency-link\" data-type=\"internal\" data-id=\"#Emergency-link\">emergency<\/a> preparedness.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The next federal election is an opportunity to prioritize <a href=\"#Emergency-link\">emergency<\/a> management for Canada\u2019s connectivity infrastructure. With support from TELUS, the Institute of Fiscal Studies and Democracy (IFSD) convened an expert roundtable to define the basic components\/considerations of an <a href=\"#Emergency-link\" data-type=\"internal\" data-id=\"#Emergency-link\">emergency<\/a> response approach for <a href=\"#Resiliency-link\" data-type=\"internal\" data-id=\"#Resiliency-link\">resilience<\/a> of connectivity infrastructure.&nbsp; The purpose of the roundtable was to define the basic components of an <a href=\"#emergency-link\" data-type=\"internal\" data-id=\"#emergency-link\">emergency<\/a> response framework to ensure the <a href=\"#Resiliency-link\" data-type=\"internal\" data-id=\"#Resiliency-link\">resilience<\/a> and reliability of connectivity infrastructure.&nbsp;Participants included operators, government, consultants, lobbyists, and academics from Canada and other countries. Consistent with Chatham House Rules, the following is a general summary of the discussion rather than meeting minutes.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>In its deliberations, the roundtable was clear: fostering <a href=\"#Resiliency-link\" data-type=\"internal\" data-id=\"#Resiliency-link\">resilience<\/a> is a multi-faceted and multi-actor effort.&nbsp; Economic security and social well-being require that strategies and tools to foster <a href=\"#Resiliency-link\" data-type=\"internal\" data-id=\"#Resiliency-link\">resilience<\/a> cover the full stakeholder environment.&nbsp; As risks are varied and unknown, coordination for long-term planning is required.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><em><a href=\"#Resiliency-link\" data-type=\"internal\" data-id=\"#Resiliency-link\"><u>Resiliency<\/u> <\/a>of ICT should be incentivized at the levels of operators, the state, and end-users because risks are varied and unknown. Economic security and social well-being are inextricably interconnected with <u><a href=\"#ICT-link\" data-type=\"internal\" data-id=\"#ICT-link\">ICT<\/a><\/u>, making <u><a href=\"#Resiliency-link\">resilience<\/a><\/u> everyone\u2019s concern, demanding collective action and investment.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>From its deliberations, the following recommendations for the Government of Canada are proposed:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ol class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Define <a href=\"#ICT-link\">ICT<\/a> infrastructure <a href=\"#Resiliency-link\" data-type=\"internal\" data-id=\"#Resiliency-link\">resilience<\/a> as a national issue of importance. Resources and initiatives should be aligned to support long-term strategic management and planning to protect Canada\u2019s economic security and social well-being.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Convene <a href=\"#ICT-link\">ICT<\/a>-specific operators and supporting services such as utilities, law enforcement, and recycling, to engage in information sharing and to explore opportunities for joint initiatives, including, collective training\/simulation.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Establish or amend existing legislation to protect <a href=\"#ICT-link\">ICT<\/a> critical infrastructure (consistent with the proposed changes in Bill C-26, e.g., adding security as a policy objective and enabling the Government of Canada to act to protect the telecommunications system, etc.) to enhance security and <a href=\"#Resiliency-link\">resilience<\/a>.&nbsp;&nbsp;<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Leverage <a href=\"#taxcredit-link\">tax credits<\/a> to incentivize operators to invest in network <a href=\"#Resiliency-link\">resiliency<\/a>, focusing on infrastructure hardening, redundancy, and recovery.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Establish a taxpayer-funded response fund for <em><u><a href=\"#emergency-link\">emergencies<\/a><\/u><\/em> that impact <a href=\"#ICT-link\">ICT<\/a> infrastructure or networks for restoring infrastructure, enabling rapid recovery, and ensuring continuity of critical telecom services during and after events.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Define the data required to size <a href=\"#ICT-link\">ICT<\/a> <a href=\"#Resiliency-link\">resilience<\/a> risk, and align mechanisms such as standardized reporting and <a href=\"#emergency-link\">emergency<\/a> management frameworks to ensure informed planning and investment decisions.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Why does <u><a href=\"#ICT-link\">ICT<\/a><\/u> <u><a href=\"#Resiliency-link\">resilience<\/a><\/u> matter?<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>In August 2024, the Government of Canada announced public consultations on potential new measures to advance and defend the country\u2019s economic and security interests. Securing the <a href=\"#Resiliency-link\">resilience<\/a> of Canada\u2019s <a href=\"#ICT-link\">ICT<\/a> infrastructure and networks is an essential step in defending these interests.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The recognition of the importance of acting to protect economic and security interests has only been amplified with the election of Donald Trump in the United States. The shifting political environment will require Canada to enhance its economic and continental security activities so that it is not perceived or targeted as a vulnerable actor.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The Business Council of Canada called upon the federal government in 2023 to establish a national security strategy with economic security as a central component.&nbsp; Cyber and other threats to Canada\u2019s business and research infrastructure are threats to its economic security.&nbsp; The Parliamentary Committee on Economic Security\u2019s summary committee notes from February 2023 indicated that:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"height:15px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-group has-global-padding is-layout-constrained wp-block-group-is-layout-constrained\">\n<p>The issue of Critical Infrastructure intersects with national, cyber, and economic security. From an economic security perspective, the NS [National Security] community is most interested in those CI [Critical Infrastructure] sectors that are most vulnerable to foreign state disruption, surveillance, or control, all of which can be harmful to Canada&rsquo;s national security.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<p>There is a clear multi-sector emphasis on the centrality of critical <a href=\"#ICT-link\">ICT<\/a> infrastructure for Canada\u2019s economic security.&nbsp; The Government of Canada\u2019s action through public consultations, while it establishes Critical Infrastructure as a priority for economic security, does not offer a coordinated and clear plan to maintain economic security in an environment of evolving geopolitical, climate, and technological risks.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Canada is a service-based economy.&nbsp; In 2023, nearly three-quarters of gross domestic product (GDP) by industry was service-based (Figure 1).&nbsp; This should make Canada and other advanced economies especially concerned with the <a href=\"#Resiliency-link\">resiliency<\/a> of <a href=\"#ICT-link\">ICT<\/a>.&nbsp; From the purchasing of goods and services to the management of utilities to access to health care, mobile and broadband connectivity permeate all facets of economic and social life in Canada.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Given the central role of <a href=\"#ICT-link\">ICT<\/a> in Canadian economic security, the ability to anticipate and absorb threats, adapt and transform, recover from disruptions, and learn from past events is crucial for those operating and leveraging connectivity infrastructure.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image aligncenter size-full is-resized\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"506\" height=\"458\" src=\"https:\/\/ifsd.ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/Screenshot-2025-02-18-at-10.45.13\u202fAM.png\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-3684\" style=\"width:323px;height:auto\" srcset=\"https:\/\/ifsd.ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/Screenshot-2025-02-18-at-10.45.13\u202fAM.png 506w, https:\/\/ifsd.ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/Screenshot-2025-02-18-at-10.45.13\u202fAM-300x272.png 300w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 506px) 100vw, 506px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-group is-style-ifsd-fit-content has-border-color has-dark-gold-border-color has-global-padding is-content-justification-left is-layout-constrained wp-container-core-group-is-layout-e5a968b2 wp-block-group-is-layout-constrained\" style=\"border-width:1px;padding-top:var(--wp--preset--spacing--32);padding-right:var(--wp--preset--spacing--32);padding-bottom:var(--wp--preset--spacing--32);padding-left:var(--wp--preset--spacing--32)\">\n<p><strong>Recommendation: Define <a href=\"#ICT-link\">ICT<\/a> infrastructure <a href=\"#Resiliency-link\">resilience<\/a> as a national issue of importance. Resources and initiatives should be aligned to support long-term strategic management and planning to protect Canada\u2019s economic security and social well-being.<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>ICT <a href=\"#Resiliency-link\">resilience<\/a> and ecosystem<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>While there are numerous recent reports, statements, and memoranda of understanding (MOU), from the outside, <strong>it is not clear who is coordinating planning and responses in Canada.&nbsp; <u><a href=\"#Resiliency-link\" data-type=\"internal\" data-id=\"#Resiliency-link\">Resilience<\/a><\/u> in <u><a href=\"#ICT-link\" data-type=\"internal\" data-id=\"#ICT-link\">ICT<\/a><\/u> requires a whole of government approach (beyond ISED and CRTC).<\/strong>&nbsp; Laws, regulations, procurement practices, policy decisions, etc., have a direct influence on how <a href=\"#Resiliency-link\">resilience<\/a> is planned and practiced.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Much of the outside literature (on engineering and communications infrastructure) is focused on designing and building <a href=\"#Resiliency-link\">resiliency <\/a>into networks.&nbsp; There is substantial analysis of approaches to building <a href=\"#Resiliency-link\">resilience<\/a> to mitigate or manage certain types of risk, e.g., earthquakes, or for certain types of networks, e.g., fibre, optical.&nbsp; The analysis is both technical and theoretical, while leveraging lessons and case studies of actual disaster or <a href=\"#emergency-link\">emergency<\/a> circumstances.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image aligncenter size-full is-resized\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"858\" height=\"560\" src=\"https:\/\/ifsd.ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/Screenshot-2025-02-18-at-10.57.47\u202fAM.png\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-3686\" style=\"width:600px\" srcset=\"https:\/\/ifsd.ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/Screenshot-2025-02-18-at-10.57.47\u202fAM.png 858w, https:\/\/ifsd.ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/Screenshot-2025-02-18-at-10.57.47\u202fAM-300x196.png 300w, https:\/\/ifsd.ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/Screenshot-2025-02-18-at-10.57.47\u202fAM-768x501.png 768w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 858px) 100vw, 858px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image aligncenter size-full is-resized\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1268\" height=\"1090\" src=\"https:\/\/ifsd.ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/Screenshot-2025-02-20-at-1.18.01\u202fPM.png\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-3721\" style=\"width:600px\" srcset=\"https:\/\/ifsd.ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/Screenshot-2025-02-20-at-1.18.01\u202fPM.png 1268w, https:\/\/ifsd.ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/Screenshot-2025-02-20-at-1.18.01\u202fPM-300x258.png 300w, https:\/\/ifsd.ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/Screenshot-2025-02-20-at-1.18.01\u202fPM-1024x880.png 1024w, https:\/\/ifsd.ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/Screenshot-2025-02-20-at-1.18.01\u202fPM-768x660.png 768w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1268px) 100vw, 1268px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Existing best practices, statements, and legislation<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The 2022 Memorandum of Understanding on Telecommunications Reliability (MOU) defined a protocol for shared emergency roaming during a critical network failure caused by an <a href=\"#emergency-link\">emergency<\/a>.&nbsp; In the preamble to the MOU, \u201cthe importance of telecommunications quality and <a href=\"#Resiliency-link\">resiliency<\/a>\u201d is recognized as a driver for the arrangement.&nbsp; In addition, a 2022 decision from regulators in the United States is referenced, identifying mobile services as \u201ca significant lifeline\u201d in <a href=\"#emergency-link\">emergency<\/a> and disaster situations that require providers to establish procedures for roaming, mutual aid, and stakeholder\/public communications in <a href=\"#emergency-link\">emergency<\/a> circumstances.&nbsp; The MOU is recognition of the need to promote network <a href=\"#Resiliency-link\">resilience<\/a> through provider collaboration in emergency contexts.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Canada&rsquo;s networks are <a href=\"#Resiliency-link\">resilient<\/a>, due to facilities-based competition, but increasing threats makes the much more challenging to maintain. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Ofcom (the United Kingdom\u2019s communications regulator) produced a guidance document on <a href=\"#ICT-link\">ICT<\/a> reliability and <a href=\"#Resiliency-link\">resilience<\/a> for providers required to comply with legislatively defined resilience-related security duties.&nbsp; The document defines types of risk and considerations for intervention (with the recognition that technical response will vary by provider).&nbsp; With an emphasis on integrating <a href=\"#Resiliency-link\">resilience<\/a> throughout the delivery cycle (design, build, operate, maintain), Ofcom provides guidance to providers linked to concepts of infrastructure reliability and resilience defined through the National Infrastructure Commission.&nbsp; The guidance document is an example of how national standards were translated for the operations of <a href=\"#ICT-link\">ICT<\/a> providers that Canada could emulate.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>In Canada, the Canadian Telecommunications Network Resiliency Working Group (a working group of the Canadian Security Telecommunications Advisory Committee (CSTAC), produced policy recommendations in March 2023 to advance network <a href=\"#Resiliency-link\">resilience<\/a>.&nbsp; There are five general recommendations: 1) establish network redundancy; 2) identify and mitigate single points of failure, e.g., geographic; 3) design physical to withstand shocks; 4) install underground cables; 5) establish business practices for rapid assessment and responsiveness.&nbsp; A series of more detailed recommendations for six key elements: core networks, physical structures, services and applications, internet services and infrastructure, access to networks, and processes, are included in the report.&nbsp; Composed of industry experts and ISED, the working group\u2019s recommendations were operator focused, but there was a call for national action and legislation to protect<a href=\"#ICT-link\"> ICT<\/a> critical infrastructure.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Bill C-26, <em>An Act respecting cyber security, amending the Telecommunications Act and making consequential amendments to other Acts<\/em> proposes changes consistent with CSTAC\u2019s recommendation.&nbsp; Proposed changes include adding security to the <em>Telecommunications Act<\/em> as a policy objective.&nbsp; Amendments would authorize the Government to act to promote the security of the Canadian telecommunications system, e.g., in instances of manipulation, interference, disruption.&nbsp; The Minister of Industry would be empowered to issue orders to providers on the use of products\/services from certain companies, the development of security plans, etc.&nbsp; On December 5, 2024, Bill C-26 was at its third reading in the Senate.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Actions to support <a href=\"#Resiliency-link\">resilience<\/a> and implications of decisions extend beyond <a href=\"#ICT-link\">ICT<\/a> operators.&nbsp; Consider for instance, the theft of copper wire.&nbsp; As instances of thefts increase, localized disruptions must be addressed to maintain network <a href=\"#Resiliency-link\">resilience<\/a>. Operators\u2019 staff, law enforcement, etc., are involved in the costly responses. Some operators recommend changing penalties in the Criminal Code and support amendments to the Telecommunications Act to increase the severity of the repercussions of the theft.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Community-level considerations should be included in <a href=\"#emergency-link\">emergency<\/a> management&nbsp; Public service announcements, how to guides, and planning tools should be developed by government and shared.&nbsp;<br>A mindset shift among citizens\/end-users is needed.&nbsp; They will first feel the impacts of any <span style=\"text-decoration: underline;\">ICT<\/span> service disruptions and they should have a range of solutions to respond to them.&nbsp; For instance, encouraging citizens\/end-users to have a generator or backup power source to ensure broadband connectivity (when power is down, internet is not necessarily down, it is that there is no power to generate the connection).&nbsp; Communities must have plans for their own <span style=\"text-decoration: underline;\">resilience<\/span>.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"height:21px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-group is-style-ifsd-fit-content has-border-color has-dark-gold-border-color has-global-padding is-content-justification-left is-layout-constrained wp-container-core-group-is-layout-e5a968b2 wp-block-group-is-layout-constrained\" style=\"border-width:1px;padding-top:var(--wp--preset--spacing--32);padding-right:var(--wp--preset--spacing--32);padding-bottom:var(--wp--preset--spacing--32);padding-left:var(--wp--preset--spacing--32)\">\n<p><strong>Recommendation: Convene <a href=\"#ICT-link\">ICT<\/a>-specific operators and supporting services such as utilities, law enforcement, and recycling, to engage in information sharing and to explore opportunities for joint initiatives, including, collective training\/simulation.<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"height:26px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"height:0px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-group is-style-ifsd-fit-content has-border-color has-dark-gold-border-color has-global-padding is-content-justification-left is-layout-constrained wp-container-core-group-is-layout-e5a968b2 wp-block-group-is-layout-constrained\" style=\"border-width:1px;padding-top:var(--wp--preset--spacing--32);padding-right:var(--wp--preset--spacing--32);padding-bottom:var(--wp--preset--spacing--32);padding-left:var(--wp--preset--spacing--32)\">\n<p><strong>Recommendation: Establish or amend existing legislation to protect <a href=\"#ICT-link\">ICT<\/a> critical infrastructure (consistent with the proposed changes in Bill C-26, e.g., adding security as a policy objective and enabling the Government of Canada to act to protect the telecommunications system, etc.) to enhance security and <a href=\"#Resiliency-link\">resilience.<\/a><\/strong>&nbsp;&nbsp;<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>How can <span style=\"text-decoration: underline;\"><u><a href=\"#Resiliency-link\">resilience<\/a><\/u> <\/span>be incented?<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>The state is the insurer of last resort in the case of a national <a href=\"#emergency-link\"><u>emergency<\/u> <\/a>or crisis. This has significant public finance implications.<\/strong> Fostering <span style=\"text-decoration: underline;\"><a href=\"#Resiliency-link\">resilience<\/a><\/span> requires anticipating and quantifying risk.&nbsp; Given the complexities and unpredictability of climate change, geopolitical tensions, technical and human errors, defining all forms of risk is untenable (i.e., there is significant uncertainty surrounding the risk of <span style=\"text-decoration: underline;\"><a href=\"#emergency-link\">emergencies<\/a> <\/span>that impact <span style=\"text-decoration: underline;\"><a href=\"#ICT-link\">ICT<\/a><\/span>).&nbsp;&nbsp; However, planning to respond to different circumstances and defining who is accountable is crucial.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Considering <span style=\"text-decoration: underline;\"><a href=\"#ICT-link\">ICT<\/a><\/span> <span style=\"text-decoration: underline;\"><a href=\"#Resiliency-link\">resilience<\/a><\/span>, the state, as insurer of last resort should liaise with actors and stakeholders to define, quantify, and respond to risks.&nbsp; <span style=\"text-decoration: underline;\"><a href=\"#Resiliency-link\">Resilience<\/a><\/span> of networks and related delivery infrastructure could be incented at the front-end and back-end through two mechanisms: 1) <span style=\"text-decoration: underline;\"><a href=\"#taxcredit-link\">tax credits<\/a><\/span>, i.e., to encourage providers to apply resources to emergency preparedness and network <span style=\"text-decoration: underline;\"><a href=\"#Resiliency-link\">resilience<\/a><\/span>; 2) response fund, i.e., resources accessible in an unforeseen circumstance with major implications.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong><u><a href=\"#Taxcredit-link\">Tax credit<\/a><\/u><span style=\"text-decoration: underline;\"><a href=\"#Taxcredit-link\">s<\/a><\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>There is limited information on the costs of failed<a href=\"#ICT-link\"> <span style=\"text-decoration: underline;\">ICT<\/span><\/a> <span style=\"text-decoration: underline;\"><a href=\"#Resiliency-link\">resilience<\/a><\/span>.&nbsp; It is challenging to quantify the cost to operators (both direct and indirect) and to consumers in an <span style=\"text-decoration: underline;\"><a href=\"#emergency-link\">emergency<\/a><\/span> circumstance until it has passed.&nbsp; There are economic and social impacts to connectivity outages with quantified impacts estimated after the fact.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>It would be beneficial to incent operators to build <span style=\"text-decoration: underline;\"><a href=\"#Resiliency-link\">resilience<\/a><\/span> into their networks at the front-end and in their regular operations.&nbsp; A <span style=\"text-decoration: underline;\"><a href=\"#taxcredit-link\">tax credit<\/a><\/span>, spending by the government by reducing or eliminating a tax (revenue) opportunity on a payer, is a potential tool to incent <span style=\"text-decoration: underline;\"><a href=\"#Resiliency-link\">resilience<\/a><\/span>.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>In Canada, the six largest telecommunications firms spent approximately $13.3B on <a href=\"#ICT-link\"><span style=\"text-decoration: underline;\">ICT<\/span> <\/a>capital in 2022.&nbsp; That capital expenditure is supporting 75% of Canada\u2019s GDP, i.e., the service sector directly or indirectly.&nbsp; When considered in the context of sectors of economic activity, it is imperative for government to incentivize operators to build <a href=\"#Resiliency-link\">resiliently<\/a>, to test frequently, and to respond decisively to threats.&nbsp; This is not to say that operators are not already engaged in such activities, but there should be a clear indication of and support for industry-led initiatives for resiliency.&nbsp; <a href=\"#ICT-link\">ICT<\/a> <a href=\"#Resiliency-link\">resiliency<\/a> is essential to economic security.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Future analysis should assess the tax credit instrument, its terms, targets, and estimate costs.&nbsp; Working with industry and other users of the <a href=\"#taxcredit-link\">tax credit<\/a>, the Government of Canada could define a spending tool to incent desired action on resilience in functional ways among operators.&nbsp; A condition to share results or practices through common forums would align to the interoperability intention in emergency circumstances of the 2022 MOU.&nbsp;&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"height:20px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-group is-style-ifsd-fit-content has-border-color has-dark-gold-border-color has-global-padding is-content-justification-left is-layout-constrained wp-container-core-group-is-layout-e5a968b2 wp-block-group-is-layout-constrained\" style=\"border-width:1px;padding-top:var(--wp--preset--spacing--32);padding-right:var(--wp--preset--spacing--32);padding-bottom:var(--wp--preset--spacing--32);padding-left:var(--wp--preset--spacing--32)\">\n<p><strong>Recommendation: Leverage <a href=\"#taxcredit-link\">tax credits<\/a> to incentivize operators to invest in network <span style=\"text-decoration: underline;\"><a href=\"#Resiliency-link\">resiliency<\/a><\/span>, focusing on infrastructure hardening, redundancy, and recovery.<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Response fund<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>There is significant uncertainty surrounding <a href=\"#ICT-link\">ICT<\/a> disasters, where there are both known unknowns and unknown unknowns. The private sector is unlikely to provide insurance for unknown threats and, even for known threats, firms are unlikely to insulate themselves from risk at socially-optimal levels. Reaching these social-optimal levels of <a href=\"#Resiliency-link\">resilience<\/a> investments will likely require action from the Government of Canada.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>ICT <a href=\"#Resiliency-link\">resiliency<\/a> requires participation from multiple actors. Given their different functions, e.g., operators, government, community, etc., an application-based fund can be a source of resources to respond to <a href=\"#emergency-link\">emergency<\/a> circumstances.&nbsp; The fund is useful in promoting broad-based access for a variety of actors and circumstances.&nbsp; A backstop for unforeseen risks in a changing environment, the fund would be a set of resources to rebuild or respond to <a href=\"#ICT-link\">ICT<\/a>-related <a href=\"#emergency-link\">emergencies.<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The mechanism is not as targeted as the <a href=\"#taxcredit-link\">tax credit<\/a> but is a set of ready resources to respond to occurrences.&nbsp; Its broader base and reach would require assessment to estimate the appropriate capitalization.&nbsp; To establish an <a href=\"#ICT-link\">ICT<\/a> response fund, initial investment should define types of risk and their anticipated frequency.&nbsp; The size of the fund should be linked to the capital stock and potential economic impact of an <a href=\"#ICT-link\">ICT<\/a> <a href=\"#emergency-link\">emergency<\/a>.&nbsp; There are noted information gaps in defining and quantifying risks associated to <a href=\"#ICT-link\">ICT<\/a>.&nbsp; The Government of Canada should address these gaps as they provide a foundation for public and private action.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Sources of funding may include spectrum fees or a whole-of-society contribution, e.g., generator tax revenues, as industry taxes do not capture the breadth of impact of <u><a href=\"#ICT-link\">ICT<\/a><\/u> <u><a href=\"#Resiliency-link\">resilience<\/a><\/u>.&nbsp; <em>&nbsp;<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Access to the fund should be well-defined, considering the emergency circumstances in which it may be called upon.&nbsp; A clear process, guidelines, and rules should be pre-established to facilitate access in chaotic situations.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>There are precedents for government funds both prior to and in response to an <a href=\"#emergency-link\">emergency<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>To respond to <a href=\"#emergency-link\">emergencies<\/a>, New Zealand established Natural Hazards Fund (managed by the Natural Hazards Commission Toka T\u016b Akean). Resources to the fund are provided through a levy on homeowners\u2019 insurance.&nbsp; The fund provides \u201cthe first layer of insurance\u201d for residential homes after a natural disaster event.&nbsp; Resources from the fund are also used to purchase reinsurance, manage the Commission, and undertake research and public education campaigns on <a href=\"#emergency-link\">emergency<\/a> preparedness. The fund is part of a broader approach in New Zealand to funding recovery following <a href=\"#emergency-link\">emergencies<\/a>.&nbsp; There is a clear statement that should needs extend beyond the fund\u2019s capacity, the Crown would cover shortages as the insurer of last resort.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>CRTC has an application-based fund (funded through operator and other payments) for granting prior to an <a href=\"#emergency-link\">emergency<\/a> (see Figure 4).&nbsp; In the past, the focus has been on connectivity in transportation.&nbsp; However, public proceedings are underway by the CRTC to explore what else the fund could be supporting.&nbsp; There is an opportunity to repurpose the $150M fund to focus on resilience.&nbsp; There is a precedent for funds to incent actions and respond to occurrences federally.&nbsp; Consider for instance, the Broadband Fund, designed to incent operators to provide connectivity in underserved parts of the country;&nbsp; the On-Farm Climate Action Fund that provided resources to farmers to respond to climate change; or the Disaster Mitigation and Adaptation Fund that provided communities impacted by climate change with resources to improve natural and structural infrastructure <a href=\"#Resiliency-link\">resilience<\/a>.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full is-resized\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"106\" height=\"44\" src=\"https:\/\/ifsd.ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/Screenshot-2025-02-18-at-11.15.00\u202fAM.png\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-3692\" style=\"width:50px\"\/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-group is-style-ifsd-fit-content has-border-color has-dark-gold-border-color has-global-padding is-content-justification-left is-layout-constrained wp-container-core-group-is-layout-e5a968b2 wp-block-group-is-layout-constrained\" style=\"border-width:1px;padding-top:var(--wp--preset--spacing--32);padding-right:var(--wp--preset--spacing--32);padding-bottom:var(--wp--preset--spacing--32);padding-left:var(--wp--preset--spacing--32)\">\n<p><em>T<\/em><em>he CRTC\u2019s Broadband Fund<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The CRTC established the Broadband Fund to support the development of a telecommunications system that can provide Canadians with access to broadband Internet and mobile wireless services in underserved areas of Canada. &nbsp;In its 3<sup>rd<\/sup> call for applications, the CRTC focused on projects that bring mobile wireless and Internet transport infrastructure to underserved regions, and it gave special consideration to transport projects that also propose enhanced <a href=\"#Resiliency-link\">resiliency<\/a> to the telecommunications infrastructure project. In its ongoing review of the Broadband Fund Policy, which governs the funding program, the CRTC is considering providing funding to projects that propose to improve <a href=\"#Resiliency-link\">resiliency<\/a> as an eligible project type for future BBF funding.&nbsp; <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>In addition to the Broadband Fund, the CRTC is working towards enhancing the <a href=\"#Resiliency-link\">resiliency<\/a> and reliability of telecommunication networks in Canada through multiple consultations.&nbsp; A consultation on requirements for the reporting of major service outages has been launched with interim reporting requirements published and additional consultations are expected on a broader look at <a href=\"#Resiliency-link\">resiliency<\/a>, including measures to enhance network resiliency.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"height:26px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-group is-style-ifsd-fit-content has-border-color has-dark-gold-border-color has-global-padding is-content-justification-left is-layout-constrained wp-container-core-group-is-layout-e5a968b2 wp-block-group-is-layout-constrained\" style=\"border-width:1px;padding-top:var(--wp--preset--spacing--32);padding-right:var(--wp--preset--spacing--32);padding-bottom:var(--wp--preset--spacing--32);padding-left:var(--wp--preset--spacing--32)\">\n<p><strong>Recommendation: Establish a taxpayer-funded response fund for <a href=\"#emergency-link\">emergencies<\/a> that impact <a href=\"#ICT-link\">ICT <\/a>infrastructure or networks for restoring infrastructure, enabling rapid recovery, and ensuring continuity of critical telecom services during and after events.&nbsp;<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"height:33px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-group is-style-ifsd-fit-content has-border-color has-dark-gold-border-color has-global-padding is-content-justification-left is-layout-constrained wp-container-core-group-is-layout-e5a968b2 wp-block-group-is-layout-constrained\" style=\"border-width:1px;padding-top:var(--wp--preset--spacing--32);padding-right:var(--wp--preset--spacing--32);padding-bottom:var(--wp--preset--spacing--32);padding-left:var(--wp--preset--spacing--32)\">\n<p><strong>Recommendation: Define the data required to size <a href=\"#ICT-link\">ICT<\/a> <a href=\"#Resiliency-link\">resilience<\/a> risk, and align mechanisms such as standardized reporting and <a href=\"#emergency-link\">emergency <\/a>management frameworks to ensure informed planning and investment decisions.<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>At what cost?<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Across jurisdictions, the risks of ICT require horizontal management.&nbsp; Executive direction on the criticality of ICT infrastructure and risk management requires collaborative responses and pricing of probability of forms of risk.&nbsp; That risk cannot be priced limits its likelihood for insurance (as it is being experienced with limitations on cybersecurity insurance), and complexifies state exposure as the insurer of last resort. Threats from climate change, geopolitical tensions and nefarious actors, human error, and technological changes require long-term plans to address them.&nbsp; The threats are increasing and complexifying, not demurring.&nbsp; The costs of inaction are vast.&nbsp; The costs of action, spread across several years, are more manageable.&nbsp; This is a matter of public decision-making and expenditure allocation.&nbsp; If a government considers the threats serious and<a href=\"#ICT-link\"> ICT<\/a> as imperative to economic security and social well-being, actions and expenditures should align.&nbsp; While no amount of funding can eliminate risk, risk can be managed with appropriate planning and incented planning across groups of actors.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Dedicated public funding should be allocated through a combination of tools including <a href=\"#taxcredit-link\">tax credits<\/a> and a response fund.&nbsp; <a href=\"#taxcredit-link\">Tax credits<\/a> may be appropriate for industry, but an <a href=\"#ICT-link\">ICT <\/a><a href=\"#emergency-link\">emergency <\/a>response fund may be more broadly applicable to actors in supporting services and communities.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The federal government should lead on the development of long-term holistic plans on an industry basis.&nbsp; With industry plans established, inter-industry collaboration and exchange should be encouraged, including through information sharing and joint initiatives such as collective training\/simulation.&nbsp; Industry coordination would require federal bodies to emulate the coordination internally.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>There is work to be done on costing risks of <a href=\"#ICT-link\">ICT<\/a> <a href=\"#emergency-link\">emergencies<\/a> and their responses.&nbsp; Immediate action is required to assess the costs of mitigation mechanisms designed to incent <a href=\"#Resiliency-link\">resilience<\/a>, e.g., <a href=\"#taxcredit-link\">tax credits<\/a> to operators, a response fund.&nbsp; Estimating these costs and impacts can be a step in building a long-term cohesive plan to managing the changing ICT threat environment.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>As expenditures are aligned to priorities of <a href=\"#ICT-link\">ICT<\/a> <a href=\"#Resiliency-link\">resilience<\/a>, the federal government should pursue its roles in coordination, compelling, and convening to anticipate responses to <a href=\"#ICT-link\">ICT<\/a> <a href=\"#emergency-links\">emergencies<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Connectivity <a href=\"#Resiliency-link\">resilience<\/a> has broad implications for Canada\u2019s economy and national security. This roundtable highlights the need for the Government of Canada to take action to build <a href=\"#Resiliency-link\">resilience<\/a> to climate change, cyber threats, and other <a href=\"#emergency-link\">emergencies<\/a> that could threaten <a href=\"#ICT-link\">ICT<\/a> infrastructure and networks. The Government of Canada can begin by defining <a href=\"#ICT-link\">ICT<\/a> infrastructure <a href=\"#Resiliency-link\">resilience<\/a> as a national issue. They can then work with <em>stakeholders, develop regulations, and enhance funding to ensure <u><a href=\"#Resiliency-link\">resilient<\/a><\/u> <u><a href=\"#ICT-link\">ICT<\/a><\/u><\/em> infrastructure Canada-wide.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Glossary <\/strong><strong><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p id=\"ICT-link\"><span style=\"text-decoration: underline;\"><em>Information and Communication Technologies (ICT)<\/em><\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>&nbsp;<\/strong>\u201c[\u2026] refers to all communication technologies, including the internet, wireless networks, cell phones, computers,&nbsp;software,&nbsp;middleware, video-conferencing,&nbsp;social networking, and other media applications and services enabling users to access, retrieve, store, transmit, and manipulate information in a digital form.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p id=\"Emergency-link\"><em><span style=\"text-decoration: underline;\">Emergency:<\/span><\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201c\u00a0\u00bbImpactful Emergency\u00a0\u00bb means an urgent and critical situation that seriously endangers the lives, health or safety of Canadians, including but not limited to those arising from Accidents, cyber attacks or other deliberate malicious acts, fires, floods, storms, earthquakes, emergencies arising from domestic or international security threats, or armed conflicts involving Canada or its allies.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p id=\"Resiliency-link\"><span style=\"text-decoration: underline;\"><em>Resiliency:<\/em><\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201c\u2026resilient infrastructures [are] systems with [the] ability to (i) anticipate and absorb disturbances, (ii) adapt\/transform in response to changes, (iii) recover, and (iv) learn from prior unforeseen events.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p id=\"Taxcredit-link\"><span style=\"text-decoration: underline;\"><em>Tax Credit:<\/em><\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>For the purpose of this summary, a tax credit is an incentive that lowers the amount of tax due for individuals and firms meeting certain criteria.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Download full summary here. Connectivity infrastructure, such as mobile and broadband connectivity, is critical infrastructure. Evolving environmental and geopolitical risks mean that Canada\u2019s connectivity infrastructure is becoming increasingly vulnerable to disasters, such as, wildfires, and cyber threats. This poses a challenge as connectivity disruptions can result in significant cascading costs and repercussions. Consider the 2022<\/p>\n<div id=\"ifsd-learn-more-button-link-block_de9c103a31b1d3044244e4c278bf3d88\" class=\"ifsd-learn-more-button continue-reading-more-link\">\n\t<a class=\"ifsd-learn-more-button__link\" href=\"https:\/\/ifsd.ca\/fr\/2025\/02\/discussion-summary-roundtable-on-information-and-communication-infrastructure-resiliency\/\" target=\"_self\">\n\t\t<span id=\"ifsd-learn-more-button-link-text-block_de9c103a31b1d3044244e4c278bf3d88\" class=\"ifsd-learn-more-button-link-text\">\n\t\t\tPour en savoir plus\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t<span id=\"ifsd-learn-more-button-link-marker-block_de9c103a31b1d3044244e4c278bf3d88\" class=\"ifsd-learn-more-button-link-marker\">\n\t\t\t<svg class=\"ifsd-learn-more-button-link-marker-svg\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" xml:space=\"preserve\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\">\n\t\t\t\t<path class=\"ifsd-learn-more-button-link-marker-svg-bullet\" fill=\"currentColor\" d=\"M12 1a11 11 0 0 1 11 11 11 11 0 0 1-11 11A11 11 0 0 1 1 12 11 11 0 0 1 12 1zM9.7 18.7l6.7-6.7-6.7-6.7-1.4 1.4 5.3 5.3-5.3 5.3 1.4 1.4z\"\/>\n\t\t\t\t<path class=\"ifsd-learn-more-button-link-marker-svg-arrow\" stroke=\"none\" stroke-width=\"2\" d=\"m9 18 6-6-6-6\"\/>\n\t\t\t<\/svg>\n\t\t<\/span>\n\t<\/a>\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"author":6,"featured_media":3731,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[22],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-3680","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-the-last-page"],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/ifsd.ca\/fr\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3680","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/ifsd.ca\/fr\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/ifsd.ca\/fr\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/ifsd.ca\/fr\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/6"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/ifsd.ca\/fr\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=3680"}],"version-history":[{"count":23,"href":"https:\/\/ifsd.ca\/fr\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3680\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":3723,"href":"https:\/\/ifsd.ca\/fr\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3680\/revisions\/3723"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/ifsd.ca\/fr\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/3731"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/ifsd.ca\/fr\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=3680"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/ifsd.ca\/fr\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=3680"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/ifsd.ca\/fr\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=3680"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}