OTTAWA, MAY 7, 2021 – A leading voice in Canada’s internet community today welcomed the federal government’s announcement of $80 million in new funding to support cybersecurity. Innovation Minister François-Philippe Champagne launched the new Cyber Security Innovation Network Program, with the goal of creating a national network of centres of expertise in the field.
Polling done on behalf of the Canadian Internet Registration Authority (CIRA) shows broad support for the investment. CIRA CEO Byron Holland pointed out that two-thirds of Canadians support additional government spending to fund cybersecurity infrastructure for Canadian businesses, and even more people believe the government should provide cybersecurity resources and infrastructure to businesses directly.
“Canadians are on board,” said Mr. Holland.
“Our research tells us that they believe that data is the new oil, and just as the oil boom led to the vast system of highways and bridges that form the backbone of our economy, the data boom is transforming the digital economy in much the same way. We’re pleased to see today’s announcement from Innovation Minister François-Philippe Champagne, which will help ensure the infrastructure of the digital economy is as safe and secure as any bridge or highway.”
Mr. Holland added that CIRA stands ready to lend its expertise to the development of the Cyber Security Innovation Network Program. CIRA currently operates Canadian Shield, a free, national cybersecurity service that protects over 100,000 Canadians from phishing, ransomware, and other cyber attacks. It also funds community-level cybersecurity projects through its annual $1.25 million CIRA Grants program.
About CIRA
CIRA is a member-based, not-for-profit organization best known for managing the .CA top-level internet domain name on behalf of all Canadians. While CIRA’s core mandate is the safe, stable, and secure operation of the .CA domain and its underlying technologies, the organization also connects, protects, and engages the internet community in Canada and beyond by providing high-quality registry, DNS, and cybersecurity services.
