Canada minister Bains bats for open internet after US ditches net neutrality

Canada’s innovation minister Navdeep Bains described net neutrality as “one of the critical issues of our times”, much like freedom of the press and freedom of expression before it.

While one North American official of Indian-origin led the charge to remove strong net neutrality protections in the United States, another, in Canada, has come out in support of that regime that prevents throttling of access to some websites over others.

File photo of Canada’s minister of innovation, science and economic development Navdeep Bains. (Courtesy Canada.ca)

Hours after the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) in the United States, chaired by Indian-American Ajit Pai, created a firestorm as the Republican majority voted down rules governing net neutrality, Canada’s minister of innovation, science and economic development Navdeep Bains tweeted: “Regardless of what other jurisdictions decide, Canada will remain committed to the principles of net neutrality. #NetNeutrality.”

Bains added in the statement, “Net neutrality is one of the critical issues of our times, much like freedom of the press and freedom of expression before it.”

The ministry noted that the Canadian government had a strong net neutrality framework in place through the Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission (CRTC).

"We believe that an open and accessible internet is vital to the free flow of content and information, which, in turn, is vital to our democracy,” Bains said in this context.

Bains also told CBC News that the FCC’s decision has important implications for Canada’s economy.

“It will have a negative impact on our businesses and consumers and also impact our democracy as well because we fundamentally believe that all information should be treated equally and people should have access to an open internet,” he said. “Once that’s compromised, that will impact our economy and our democracy as well.”