Carney's plan for digital government could find savings, but just as many headaches
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Mike Leahy, a director general in the department's commercial and trade branch, said the new system is more efficient because, among other things, it allows import taxes to be calculated electronically and immediately, creates an ongoing file for more than 157,000 Canadian businesses, and can more easily be amended to deal with errors or policy changes.
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CARM replaced a 35-year-old, mostly paper-based system just in time to deal with Donald Trump's erratic trade policies. 'The clock was ticking,' said Leahy of the old system.
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Corinne Pohlmann, executive vice-president for advocacy for the Canadian Federation of Independent Business (CFIB), says governments should take advantage of AI and other digital tools to do things better but should also try to do more with less.
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Pohlmann said the new online import system may not be a step forward for small business owners. The new online system requires importers to put up bonds or use their credit cards if they want immediate release of their goods, unlike the old system, while the forms are now longer and more onerous, she added.
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Many small businesses, such as restaurants, manufacturers or flower farms, don't have more time or money for paperwork, whether it's electronic or not. 'Just because something is digitized doesn't mean that it's less onerous,' Pohlmann said.
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So where to from here?
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For Solomon, the new AI minister, and Mélanie Joly, the new industry minister, and others involved in setting up Canada's plan for AI, e-government and other digital change, the destination may appear clearer than the path forward.
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And with change comes challenges. Governments will also need to deal with a host of tricky matters, such as security and privacy concerns, online hate and apps and other services affiliated with state-owned enterprises based in China and elsewhere.
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The potential benefits of more e-government and AI services are tempting, but it's unclear how tolerant Canadians will be if the negatives from digital change start to pile up. The main negative will likely include job losses as some coders, factory workers, call centre workers and others could be replaced.
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In the case of Sikma and many small business owners, the gains will need to clearly outweigh the costs.
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'It's just kind of a headache,' the frustrated Ontario flower farmer said of CBSA's new importing system. 'It's just another thing.'
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