As digital communication becomes the new normal for many facets of life during the COVID-19, government function is no different.

Jeremy Patzer, the member of parliament for the Cypress Hills-Grasslands riding, took part in a meeting of the Standing Committee on Industry, Science and Technology, which was the first-ever digital meeting for the committee, which wasn’t without a few hiccups.

“We had people that were either unable to hear translation, or at one point we were doing a vote count and a few people got skipped so there was a point of order raised to make sure everyone had a chance to participate. Our call started a half an hour early, and we didn’t start until 25 minutes after we were originally supposed to start, so it took almost an hour to get all the testing done and ready to go.”   

"There were definitely some technical difficulties, but we were able to plunk our way through it and we were still able to have a somewhat constructive meeting anyway.”

Patzer added that the pandemic has heightened the need for nationwide broadband internet access, something that southwest Saskatchewan residents have been vocal about in the past.

“The CRTC [Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission] has indicated that internet service is a basic service that every Canadian should enjoy, and needs to be able to have access to, which is definitely a fair statement for them to make.”

He said that he believes digital communication is the way of the future for many businesses.

The meeting itself touched on the distribution of personal protective equipment (PPE), as well as small businesses and how they are receiving support from the government.

Patzer used the recent report that 1,00,000 medical masks shipped to Canada from China were unable to be used as a way to highlight both points.

“We need to be able to produce more of our critical infrastructure here in Canada, as opposed to solely relying on trade with other countries.”

“Trade is important, but in the same breath, this reinforces the need to also have a 'made in Canada' situation as well.”

On their scheduled Thursday meeting, the committee will be joined by the Minister of Industry.

The wage subsidy program was also launched in close proximity to the meeting. Patzer said they would be keeping an eye on how that roll out would affect businesses across the country.

In terms of southwest Saskatchewan, Patzer said the area’s entrepreneurship and innovation were shining through in the time of struggle. He also pointed to the bright spot on the horizon for businesses in the Re-Open Saskatchewan plan.

He shared how the oil and gas industry has reacted to the pandemic.

“There’s definitely been job loss, there’s been a reduction in wells, I think in western Canada something like 240 drilling rigs are down to 24 or something like that. There’s been a big hit on the numbers for sure.”

The committee also asked for a report from the Department of Industry regarding their engagement with manufacturing and small businesses. That report would focus on how the government has requested manufacturers to produce PPE.

He said in the past receiving a similar report would take upwards of three months, and hoped it wouldn’t take that long in this case.

Patzer added that the majority of questions he’s received from his riding have focused on the economy.