BLOCKCHAIN TECHNOLOGY STRATEGY (2023)

Issue

The Internet's second blockchain era will produce even more upheaval than the Internet's first information era. It is an unstoppable force that will make itself felt in almost every facet of our lives. Canada has a head start on becoming the second era's global hub or, at least, one of a handful of such hubs. We need a tech corridor in British Columbia to connect with the Digital Technology Supercluster in Ontario. The Greater Toronto region is already a world leader in quantum physics and artificial intelligence. Blockchain is ideally placed to be the third leg of the Tech North stool.

Still, Canada needs to overcome significant obstacles if it is to cement a leadership role in blockchain technology. A key handicap is the absence of a clearly defined strategy for governments and other stakeholders to exploit blockchain technology. For example, governments focus on investing in related technologies such as artificial intelligence and quantum computing while missing the critical underlying blockchain infrastructure.

Background

Blockchain is a distributed ledger in which anything of value can be stored, ranging from money, stocks, bonds and intellectual property, to votes, art, music, loyalty points, carbon credits, health-care records and student accomplishments. Even our identities can be stored, transacted, communicated and managed securely and privately. [1]

The First Industrial Revolution occurred in Europa and the US where a transition to new manufacturing processes occurred between 1760-1840. The traditional hand-processing methods were coopted using machines, chemical, steam, and water.

The Second Industrial Revolution, known as the Technological Revolution, was a phase of rapid industrialization between the late 19th century and early 20th century. Advancements in manufacturing and production technology were the staple of the Second Industrial Revolution, and the invention of things such as the telegraph, railroad network, gas and water supply, and sewage systems.

The Third Industrial Revolution involved the utilization of new energy with communication technologies, mainly renewable electricity. This third phase of the industrial revolution includes the sharing economy and details the interconnection of the world’s economies.

We are now in and moving away from the fourth industrial revolution, known as the Industrial Revolution 4.0. This is the name given to the current trend of automation and data exchanges. The increasingly complex and sophisticated cyber-physical systems, the Internet of things, cloud computing, and cognitive computing are all facets of the fourth industrial revolution. Within this revolution is the advent of blockchain technology.

The uses of blockchain technology, which is a primary facet of cloud computing and the internet of things, is a relatively new way of exchanging information and services but is already revolutionizing global trade.[2]

Blockchain is a concept for storing data. It is a decentralized and secure trust between parties. The blockchain can be seen as a type of digital ledger that holds information about transactions in a register that is transparent and accessible. Once information is entered into a “block”, it can’t be altered, only added to. Multiple data entries, or blocks, create a chain of blocks (i.e. blockchain). Once information is uploaded to a block, all parties involved are made aware of this.

A trade chain can be seen as a long and complicated series of transactions. Time is critical for much trade, including agricultural trade across the country and across international borders. As agricultural items are perishable, time is crucial for trade. Delays in terms of information sharing are detrimental to the goods, and therefore, the economy on both the importer and exporter’s side. Utilizing blockchain will speed up the transaction speed and thus limit the number of spoiled items. In a society that is trying to reduce waste, blockchain technology is one way to accomplish this goal.

Canadian entrepreneurs and companies are on the leading edge of blockchain innovation. Ethereum, viewed by some as the most important blockchain company in the world, recently surpassed $228.45 billion (U.S.)[3] in value. Consensus Systems is building decentralized applications that could transform several industries, including financial services, professional services, manufacturing, telecommunications, music and film. Many of the bitcoin core developers are Canadian and work in the start-up community. A growing constellation of entrepreneurs and technologists (e.g., Paycase, Protocol Fund, Tendermint, Nuco, Smartwallet, BlockStream, etc.) are trying to build the future with companies in Toronto, Surrey, Vancouver, Montreal and elsewhere.

To cement Canada's position as a global leader in blockchain technology, the following steps need to be taken:

Stimulating Research And Development (R&D) Through Blockchain-Based Flow-Through Shares

The report explains how the flow-through shares model that has been effective in Canada's mining, oil and gas industries could be applied to technology. The key is to use blockchain to track all investments, real-time in R&D to ensure all tax benefits go directly into innovation. This would offer Canada a double-barrelled opportunity: a massive new source of funds to spur research and development in the technology sector, and a highly visible, real-time demonstration of blockchain's capabilities and benefits.

Create a Blockchain Research Institute & Centre of Excellence

It's time to conduct deep research into killer applications – identifying the most important opportunities for blockchain in business and government and drawing the road map for how to get there. Canada needs a Blockchain Research Institute, to unlock the potential of blockchain across industries and also within the functions of organizations. The institute could operate as a research centre for projects that potentially benefit a wide range of players, and where competitive issues are not a concern.

Round-table participants and others expressed strong support for a Blockchain Centre of Excellence. The centre would not be dissimilar to those that have helped propel many other emerging technologies; however, new thinking is required. For example, it would be the focal point for a cluster of a set of blockchain-related businesses, encouraging them to feed off each other.

A Centre of Excellence exists in Eastern Canada, but the findings and utilization ends there. The Western provinces and territories do not participate in a meaningful way in this Centre. That is why the West needs to create a centre itself. One founded in B.C. would be most effective since the Government of B.C. already utilizes blockchain through the Verified Organization Network (VON)[4]

Government As A Model User

One of the most important steps government can take is to adopt the technology to transform its own operations – federal, provincial and local. This stimulates innovation, creates a stronger domestic market for entrepreneurs and among other things could dramatically improve the performance of government.

Multiple levels of government have moved toward using blockchain for permits, including the Government of Ontario, the City of Toronto and the Government of British Columbia[5]. In 2018, Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada; the Treasury Board of Canada Secretariat; and the National Research Council Canada (NRCC) all utilized blockchain for one reason or another as an experiment. While the experiment is not ongoing, this work has provided “constructive insight into the potential for this technology and how it may be used for more open and transparent operations for public programs”.[6]

British Columbia has been investing in this expedition through DigiBC.[7] They have used Verifiable Credentials for People by utilizing Hyperledger INDY and ARIES. This has resulted in three project demonstrations: Safe Entry BC[8]; Conference Book[9]; and Chat Server[10]. Although the results are important, we need to enhance this through partnerships with the private sector and encourage its application across all businesses.

Expand Access To The United States And Our Other Trading Partners

Building an innovation economy in Canada does not mean isolating ourselves from the rest of the world. Indeed, with calls for protectionism growing louder in countries such as the United States and Britain, we must build bridges and strengthen ties to key markets, expand our trading partners and work constructively with foreign governments.

Given Canada's relatively small domestic market, it is vital for the blockchain community to expand access to the United States. The U.S. is by far the largest source of financing for blockchain start-ups, the biggest market for their products and, outside Canada, the biggest supplier of talent for blockchain and other fintech ventures.

Education And Cultural Change

Revolutionary products and services often run into early skepticism, even mockery and hostility. Entrenched interests resist change and established leaders are often the last to embrace the new, if they ever do. Blockchain is no exception. It has already brought dislocation, conflict, confusion and uncertainty, and is sure to bring more. This is especially true in Canada, where regulators and policy makers have tended to favour stability over innovation. [11]

THE CHAMBER RECOMMENDS

That the Provincial Government:

1. Create a Blockchain Centre of Excellence and Research Institute in B.C. where blockchain-related businesses can cluster and innovate.

That the Federal Government:

2. Stimulating R&D through blockchain-based flow-through shares that would track all investments in real-time in R&D to ensure all tax benefits go directly into innovation.
3. Incorporating best practices conducive to establishing innovation in this growing field.