Sat May 26 22:32:22 CDT 2007
Unfair Promotion of Microsoft Products Response
I recently received a response from the Minister Responsible for the CRTC Bev Oda on a issue I had written about a while back:
****
Subject: Re: [Fwd: RE: Unfair Promotion of Microsoft Products]
Date: Mon, 26 Mar 2007 09:08:32 -0500
From: Mathieu Allard
To: Oda.B@parl.gc.ca
CC: simarr@parl.gc.ca
References: <441B491A.6000302@opalescent.ca>
The Honourable Beverley J. Oda,
Minister of Canadian Heritage and Status of Women
CC The Honourable Raymond Simard
Dear Minister,
I am writing further to my original email which was sent on March 17th, 2006.
Please let me know if a response is forthcoming.
Sincerely,
Mathieu Allard
> The Honourable Beverley J. Oda
> Minister of Canadian Heritage and Status of Women
>
> CC The Honourable Raymond Simard
>
> Dear Minister,
>
> I am bringing this issue to your attention as the CRTC reports to= p>
> Parliament through the Minister of Canadian Heritage.
>
> On page :
> http://www.crtc.gc.ca/eng/help.htm
>
> There is a reference to .doc and to .xls files and links to
> office.microsoft.com for help on how to view these files.
>
> While I understand that these are popular file formats, I also
> understand that these file formats are owned and controlled by a si= ngle
> vendor, in this case Microsoft Corporation.
>
> In advertising specific brands on the website, the CRTC is giving t= his
> specific vendor an unfair competitive advantage over other firms th= at
> provide spreadsheet and word processing systems.
>
> The larger office productivity industry has come together to create=
> international standards for these file formats under the name of
> OpenDocument. OpenDocument is not only a standard via OASIS
> (Organization for the Advancement of Structured Information Standar= ds),
> but was submitted by OASIS to the ISO/IEC JTC1 (International
> Organization for Standardization International Electrotechnical
> Commission's Joint Technical Committe= e).
>
> More information on OpenDoucument can= be found at:
> http://www.oasis-open.org/committees/= office
>
>
> Refer to the March 7 press release:= span>
> http://www.oasis-open.org/news/oasis-= news-2006-03-07.php
>
> I have written to the CRTC on this ma= tter and they have responded that
> "Some of the documents on our si= te have originated outside the
> Commission and are in a format other = than HTML and are made available in
> the file format sent to us (we do not= manipulate or convert third party
> documents". However, if these do= cuments are available for public
> download on the website, it is unders= tood that these documents should be
> viewable to the public. It would be r= easonable to convert these
> documents to an open file format or r= equire third parties to submit
> their files in open file formats so t= hat no one is excluded from the
> discussion.
>
> Why does the CRTC not assure that documents be made available for= p>
> download in .pdf format or in the OpenDocument Format, formats that= are
> published vendor neutral file formats?
>
> Thank you very much for taking the time to read my comments and I w= ould
> appreciate an email response as to your position on the issues that= I
> have raised in this email.
>
> Sincerely,
>
> Mathieu Allard
> Mail Address:
> 232 Aubert St.
> Winnipeg, Manitoba
> R2H 0B3
>
>
> -------- Original Message --------
> Subject: RE: Unfair Promotion of Microsoft Products
> Date: Fri, 10 Mar 2006 14:00:02 -0500
> From: WEBMASTER
> To: Mathieu Allard
>
>
>
> Mathieu,
>
> Thank you for writing to the CRTC. I apologize for the delay in get= ting
> back to you. Some of the documents on our site have originated outs= ide the
> Commission and are in a format other than HTML and are made availab= le in
> the file format sent to us (we do not manipulate or convert third p= arty
> documents). These documents may require the use of a special reader= and
> that is why we make the information available in our help file. All= CRTC
> documents are published in HTML format and many are also available = in PDF.
>
> I hope this information is helpful.
>
> Lorraine S=C3=A9guin
> Webmestre | Webmaster
>
> (819) 997-4272 | lorraine.seguin@crtc.gc.ca | T=C3=A9l=C3=A9copieur= /Fax: (819)
> 994-0218 Conseil de la radiodiffusion et des t=C3=A9l=C3=A9communic= ations
> canadiennes, Ottawa (Ontario) K1A 0N2 Canada Canadian Radio-televis= ion and
> Telecommunications Commission, Ottawa, Ontario K1A 0N2 Canada Gouve= rnement
> du Canada | Government of Canada
>
> ------------
>
> To Whom It May Concern,
>
> I am writing to bring attention to the fact that on page :
> http://www.crtc.gc.ca/eng/help.htm
>
> There is a reference to .doc and to .xls files and links to
> office.microsoft.com for help on how to view these files.
>
> While I understand that these are popular file formats, I also unde= rstand
> that these file formats are owned by Microsoft Corporation.
>
> In advertising the products on the website, I feel that you are pro= moting
> specific non-standard Information and Communications Technology bra= nds on
> your website you are giving Microsoft an unfair advantage over othe= r firms
> that provide spreadsheet and word processing systems.
>
> If documents are something that are part of the CRTC's website, I w= ould
> personally recommend that these documents be made available for dow= nload in
> .pdf format, a format that is a published vendor neutral file forma= t.
>
> Thank you very much for taking the time to read my comments and I w= ould
> appreciate a response as to the CRTC's position on the issues that = I have
> raised in this email.
>
> Sincerely,
>
> Mathieu Allard
--
Mathieu Allard
Email: mathieu@opalescent.ca
Mail Address:
232 Aubert St.
Winnipeg, Manitoba
R2H 0B3
****
Subject: Re: [Fwd: RE: Unfair Promotion of Microsoft Products]
Date: Mon, 26 Mar 2007 09:08:32 -0500
From: Mathieu Allard
To: Oda.B@parl.gc.ca
CC: simarr@parl.gc.ca
References: <441B491A.6000302@opalescent.ca>
The Honourable Beverley J. Oda,
Minister of Canadian Heritage and Status of Women
CC The Honourable Raymond Simard
Dear Minister,
I am writing further to my original email which was sent on March 17th, 2006.
Please let me know if a response is forthcoming.
Sincerely,
Mathieu Allard
> The Honourable Beverley J. Oda
> Minister of Canadian Heritage and Status of Women
>
> CC The Honourable Raymond Simard
>
> Dear Minister,
>
> I am bringing this issue to your attention as the CRTC reports to= p>
> Parliament through the Minister of Canadian Heritage.
>
> On page :
> http://www.crtc.gc.ca/eng/help.htm
>
> There is a reference to .doc and to .xls files and links to
> office.microsoft.com for help on how to view these files.
>
> While I understand that these are popular file formats, I also
> understand that these file formats are owned and controlled by a si= ngle
> vendor, in this case Microsoft Corporation.
>
> In advertising specific brands on the website, the CRTC is giving t= his
> specific vendor an unfair competitive advantage over other firms th= at
> provide spreadsheet and word processing systems.
>
> The larger office productivity industry has come together to create=
> international standards for these file formats under the name of
> OpenDocument. OpenDocument is not only a standard via OASIS
> (Organization for the Advancement of Structured Information Standar= ds),
> but was submitted by OASIS to the ISO/IEC JTC1 (International
> Organization for Standardization International Electrotechnical
> Commission's Joint Technical Committe= e).
>
> More information on OpenDoucument can= be found at:
> http://www.oasis-open.org/committees/= office
>
>
> Refer to the March 7 press release:= span>
> http://www.oasis-open.org/news/oasis-= news-2006-03-07.php
>
> I have written to the CRTC on this ma= tter and they have responded that
> "Some of the documents on our si= te have originated outside the
> Commission and are in a format other = than HTML and are made available in
> the file format sent to us (we do not= manipulate or convert third party
> documents". However, if these do= cuments are available for public
> download on the website, it is unders= tood that these documents should be
> viewable to the public. It would be r= easonable to convert these
> documents to an open file format or r= equire third parties to submit
> their files in open file formats so t= hat no one is excluded from the
> discussion.
>
> Why does the CRTC not assure that documents be made available for= p>
> download in .pdf format or in the OpenDocument Format, formats that= are
> published vendor neutral file formats?
>
> Thank you very much for taking the time to read my comments and I w= ould
> appreciate an email response as to your position on the issues that= I
> have raised in this email.
>
> Sincerely,
>
> Mathieu Allard
> Mail Address:
> 232 Aubert St.
> Winnipeg, Manitoba
> R2H 0B3
>
>
> -------- Original Message --------
> Subject: RE: Unfair Promotion of Microsoft Products
> Date: Fri, 10 Mar 2006 14:00:02 -0500
> From: WEBMASTER
> To: Mathieu Allard
>
>
>
> Mathieu,
>
> Thank you for writing to the CRTC. I apologize for the delay in get= ting
> back to you. Some of the documents on our site have originated outs= ide the
> Commission and are in a format other than HTML and are made availab= le in
> the file format sent to us (we do not manipulate or convert third p= arty
> documents). These documents may require the use of a special reader= and
> that is why we make the information available in our help file. All= CRTC
> documents are published in HTML format and many are also available = in PDF.
>
> I hope this information is helpful.
>
> Lorraine S=C3=A9guin
> Webmestre | Webmaster
>
> (819) 997-4272 | lorraine.seguin@crtc.gc.ca | T=C3=A9l=C3=A9copieur= /Fax: (819)
> 994-0218 Conseil de la radiodiffusion et des t=C3=A9l=C3=A9communic= ations
> canadiennes, Ottawa (Ontario) K1A 0N2 Canada Canadian Radio-televis= ion and
> Telecommunications Commission, Ottawa, Ontario K1A 0N2 Canada Gouve= rnement
> du Canada | Government of Canada
>
> ------------
>
> To Whom It May Concern,
>
> I am writing to bring attention to the fact that on page :
> http://www.crtc.gc.ca/eng/help.htm
>
> There is a reference to .doc and to .xls files and links to
> office.microsoft.com for help on how to view these files.
>
> While I understand that these are popular file formats, I also unde= rstand
> that these file formats are owned by Microsoft Corporation.
>
> In advertising the products on the website, I feel that you are pro= moting
> specific non-standard Information and Communications Technology bra= nds on
> your website you are giving Microsoft an unfair advantage over othe= r firms
> that provide spreadsheet and word processing systems.
>
> If documents are something that are part of the CRTC's website, I w= ould
> personally recommend that these documents be made available for dow= nload in
> .pdf format, a format that is a published vendor neutral file forma= t.
>
> Thank you very much for taking the time to read my comments and I w= ould
> appreciate a response as to the CRTC's position on the issues that = I have
> raised in this email.
>
> Sincerely,
>
> Mathieu Allard
--
Mathieu Allard
Email: mathieu@opalescent.ca
Mail Address:
232 Aubert St.
Winnipeg, Manitoba
R2H 0B3
Sat May 26 12:37:52 CDT 2007
Letter to Industry Minister on Cap Program
I just sent the following message to my MP and the Minister of Industry inquiring on the status of the CAP program:
Original Message *****
Subject: Status of the Community Access Program (CAP)
Date: Sat, 26 May 2007 12:30:06 -0500
From: Mathieu Allard
To: Minister.Industry@ic.gc.ca
CC: simarr@parl.gc.ca
Honorable Industry Minister Maxime Bernier,
Industry Canada's Community Access Program (CAP) has given thousands of Canadians affordable access to the Internet in places like schools, community centres and libraries. It provides access to those people who might not have computers or Internet access in their homes or workplaces.
http://cap.ic.gc.ca/pub/index.html
The program, which expired on March 31st, supports the provision of Internet access to low-income, unemployed and homeless Canadians at over 4,000 community sites across Canada.
I believe that this is a worthwhile program that should continue to be funded by the Government of Canada and I would like your assurance as Minister of Industry that your department's support for this program will continue.
I have copied my Member of Parliament and look forward to your response on this issue.
Sincerely,
Mathieu Allard
232 Aubert St.
Winnipeg, Manitoba
R2H 0B3
----
Original Message *****
Subject: Status of the Community Access Program (CAP)
Date: Sat, 26 May 2007 12:30:06 -0500
From: Mathieu Allard
To: Minister.Industry@ic.gc.ca
CC: simarr@parl.gc.ca
Honorable Industry Minister Maxime Bernier,
Industry Canada's Community Access Program (CAP) has given thousands of Canadians affordable access to the Internet in places like schools, community centres and libraries. It provides access to those people who might not have computers or Internet access in their homes or workplaces.
http://cap.ic.gc.ca/pub/index.html
The program, which expired on March 31st, supports the provision of Internet access to low-income, unemployed and homeless Canadians at over 4,000 community sites across Canada.
I believe that this is a worthwhile program that should continue to be funded by the Government of Canada and I would like your assurance as Minister of Industry that your department's support for this program will continue.
I have copied my Member of Parliament and look forward to your response on this issue.
Sincerely,
Mathieu Allard
232 Aubert St.
Winnipeg, Manitoba
R2H 0B3
----