Moving quickly, just to keep up

What did we ever do without the Internet? It seems like anything and everything we ever wanted to see or witness is available with a quick click and a scroll through a web browser.

And from the days of the screeching and whining dial-up modem (when a single photo would take forever to download), we've entered into the age of high-speed and even super-high-speed connections (with quality resolution videos and photos appearing almost instantaneously on our screens).

However, we aren't all living with that sort of luxury. Those in the Stephenville area might ask, 'What are you talking about?' - but the reality is that many communities throughout Bay St. George are without high-speed Internet connections.

Yes folks, that mildy annoying sound of a telephone line connecting to the Internet is still very much a commonplace occurrence in many local households.

How they survive without the immediate gratification of watching high-quality Youtube clips or sending monstrously sized photos of their children/ grandchildren/ pets to their family or friends might be beyond the comprehension of those accustomed to high-speed connections.

And it need not only be those in Stephenville with a surprised look on their faces. Just talk to somebody from Toronto or another more urban centre, and you're more likely to see dropped jaws when explaining that dial-up is still a daily reality for some rural folk.

It's often been said those in the more rural parts of the country tend to be ignored by those officials holding positions power in places like Ottawa. Only when election signs get posted do some politicians (or would-be politicians) even recognize that not every Canadian lives in a city.

So it would was with a bit of surprise when Liberal Leader Michael Ignatieff announced earlier this month a future Liberal government would achieve the goal of 100 per cent high-speed Internet connectivity within three years of being elected. And he didn't stop there. He also said a Liberal government would expand mobile telephone coverage for rural and remote areas of Canada.

Well, there are two ways to look at Ignatieff's announcement, the same way as one sees the ubiquitous glass of water. On the one hand, it would be great to see the feds coughing up the money to have everybody (and yes, he did say 100 per cent) connected to the Internet without having to use a dial-up connection. Just think of the services those not living in urban centres could have better access to, whether it be for communicating, learning, or even watching Beyonce's latest music video (oh come on, life's too short not to enjoy technology - when it's available).

However, those who find the glass as half empty might see this as another hollow promise from a politician wanting votes in the next election. As great as it would be to have everybody on a high-speed connection and with expanded cell coverage, the logistics must be something of a nightmare. And if this were an easy or inexpensive task, wouldn't it have already been bankrolled by the powers that be?

Perhaps it would be a good idea for Mr. Ignatieff himself to get away from Ottawa - and come out and visit places like Cape St. George, Degrau Robinsons, McKays, or any other community in Bay St. George - to hear how the more rural Canadian residents are faring with or without high-speed Internet or constantly reliable cell phone coverage. Maybe then he could also hear first-hand about some of the other concerns of local citizens that he and his party could help remedy.

That said, why not send him an invite? His email is Ignatieff.M@parl.gc.ca. (Be sure to let him know if you're sending the message via a dial-up or high-speed connection.)

As we move into the 21st century's tween years, the ability to communicate with others via digital technology will become increasingly important - and what is considered a luxury by some today will be the expected norm very soon. Let's make an effort to ensure that the Liberals, or whatever party is governing our country, keeps us up to speed with our fellow Canadians.