Taking action on digital issues would match the concerns of a new political generation.

When the Prime Minister announced he was proroguing parliament in the midst of the holiday season, political commentators applauded the tactic, confident that few Canadians would notice or care. In less than three weeks, Christopher White, a university student from Alberta, proved the experts wrong, building the largest Facebook group in the country, one that became the focal point for national discussion and voter discontent.

As Parliament gets back to work, one aspect of Canada’s Facebook-inspired action that should not be lost was the way it spurred a new, younger generation of Canadians to engage in the political process. Maintaining their interest in politics and policy will require addressing issues of concern to them.

While the environment and education may top the list, digital issues – including universal Internet access, competitive networks, balanced copyright, and effective privacy protection - are not far behind. Canada’s sliding digital global ranking reflects ten years of policy neglect. Other countries have prioritized digital issues, yet leaders from all parties have been content to rest on the laurels of the late 1990s, only to wake up to a new, less-competitive reality in 2010.

Industry Minister Tony Clement has spoken frequently about the need for a national digital strategy, but concrete policies have been slow in coming. The parliamentary restart presents another opportunity for action.

On the legislative front, Clement should reintroduce the Electronic Commerce Protection Act, the anti-spam bill that passed through the House of Commons and was to have been the subject of Senate hearings earlier this year. Having received all-party support and extensive study, the ECPA should be placed on a rocket docket with a commitment to passing the bill before the summer recess.

Two other long-awaited bills should see the light of day this spring. A digital copyright bill consistent with Clement’s commitment for a forward-looking, technology neutral approach should be a priority. So too should a privacy reform bill that ensures that privacy rights are not lost in the technological shuffle.

Beyond new legislation, government should lead by example. A new data.gc.ca website with open government datasets like those found in the U.S. and U.K. should be implemented alongside more permissive licences to use government documents.

Canadian networks deserve far more political attention, including ensuring that Internet providers are compliant with net neutrality requirements. Moreover, the next generation of policy issues such as spectrum allocation, the digital television transition, and the removal of Canadian control requirements in the telecom sector, must move to the fore.

Restoring trust in Canadian politics requires addressing the issues that matter to a new generation of politically aware Canadians. A made-in-Canada digital strategy should form a key part of the 2010 policy agenda.