Sustainability, Social Capital and the Canadian ICT Sector

In this paper we explore the possibilities of information and communication technology (ICT) companies creating economic, social and ecological value – primarily with reference to two theoretical constructs: sustainability and social capital. We take a global overview and provide commentary on private and public sector applications of digital technologies around the world. We develop a Canadian perspective on sustainability, social capital and the ICT sector and we report on preliminary research with the sector undertaken for the Sustainable Canada project. We observe that at the present time Canadian ICT companies do not see the issue of sustainability as a defining characteristic of their identities or of their business strategies. However, there is a good understanding of the importance of practical commitments to environmental and social good practice and there is potential for ICT companies based in Canada to enter into strategic partnerships with government and civil society organizations in order to help address a range of social and ecological issues in Canada and internationally. We suggest that pursuit of ‘made in Canada’ initiatives in sustainable development may enhance social capital in the ICT sector which may in turn improve the reputation and competitiveness of Canadian ICT firms.