Public Pressure

I love seeing how the communication tools we have today can impact change quickly on what are otherwise slow moving organizations.  Yesterday the latest example of this hit the press.

July 11th marks the availability of the new 3G iPhone from Apple.  Here in Canada we often get royally screwed by Canadian corporations who bask in the protection that the 49th parallel offers them.  Whether it be airlines, energy firms, car manufacturers or telcom companies.

The introduction of the 3G iPhone has focused attention on mobile data rates in Canada and made consumers compare pricing between Canada and those lucky residents south of the 49th parallel.  AT&T in the U.S. offers a plan for $69 that offers 450 minutes of calling and unlimited data with no term contract.  The best Rogers was offering Canadians was a $115 a month with a 2GB data cap.  Well, all it took was a week or so of public pressure, blogs, radio, TV, etc for Rogers to reduce their pricing to $30 for 6GB.  The annoying part is that this is only for a six week period.  So it is by no means a victory..yet.  We are still screwed.

The point here is that organizations, whether governmental or non, prviate or public, are under watch and, if enough people speak up and start tarnishing their brand, their behaviours are likely to change.  So Rogers, Telus, Air Canada, Westjet, Government of Canada, BC Hydro, Royal Bank, TD beware.

Unfortunately these companies are, as mentioned, protected by this border that the U.S. and Canadian governments have in place.  Break it down, allow free movement of goods, people, labour, resources.  Allow the best ideas, services and products to flow and let both populations benefit.  Stop, Canada, from being so afraid of being swallowed up.  If in fact there is something of value in Canada it will thrive.  Be confident in Canada.