The value of government information is being degraded by the limitations being proposed regarding its availability and use. Right now the Canadian government is waking up to the presence of information networks and the potential they offer as information tools, as public service tools, as democratic tools. The Internet, being the largest and most pervasive of all networks, is attracting the most attention. These projects have all been successful as pilots and have fostered intense discussion about the future of electronic service delivery. You are to be spared the usual witty simile or metaphor about how information spreads on the Internet.
Government wants, and needs, to take advantage of the new potential of the networks.
This is a valid concern but it must not be the overriding concern. The fact is that while information placed on the Internet may be of benefit to non-Canadian industry too, the overall advantage to Canadian firms makes up for this loss. This comes to thousands and thousands of documents intended to aid industry that reach the people that want them, when they want them. In the end the status quo is probably no more appealing than electronic services, the only difference is that it's not as obvious. Despite this, the merit of developing electronic service delivery is in some cases being questioned by governmental agencies on the basis of its availability to non-Canadians.