Integrating Gender into Canadian Internet Policy: From the Information Highway to the Digital Economy

Abstract

This article provides an overview of gender and Internet policy in Canada from the mid-1990s to the present day. It first traces early federal policy (Fourth World Conference on Women, federal plan for gender equality, and the Information Highway Advisory Council [IHAC]). Turning to the 2000s, the article reviews Canada's influence in international initiatives (World Summit on the Information Society). The article then reviews Conservative government initiatives (digital economy agenda, Digital Canada 150), illustrating a decline for digital inclusion. With a new Liberal government, the article concludes with areas of engagement by government and civil society toward digital and gender inclusion.