Thank you, David.
Electronic commerce is at the leading edge of the trends that are transforming the world economy.
Information technology is transforming the business process. At the same time, those consumers have access to an unlimited global array of products and services. The knowledge economy places a premium on continuous improvement and the creation and application of new ideas. To stay ahead, Canada needs to build on its strengths in research and people and focus these resources on building a stronger Canadian innovation system. A key part of our government's response to this challenge is our agenda for Connecting Canadians.