INDY Committee News Release

OTTAWA 15 December 1998 – Computer software and household electronic equipment that is not Year 2000 compliant still continues to be sold across the country, according to witnesses the House of Commons Industry Committee heard this Fall during its ongoing study of the Y2K problem. "Consumers should be careful this holiday season to make sure that their purchases are Year 2000 compliant" said Susan Whelan, the Committee Chair and MP for Essex. As well, Canadians travelling abroad should be aware that credit cards with expiry dates beyond 1999 may not function properly in some parts of the world.

Overall, the Committee was encouraged by what it heard from experts, government officials and industry representatives this Fall. Canadians can likely expect to have no interruptions to many essential services such as electrical power and communications. However, information about progress being made by large corporations toward becoming Y2K compliant is sometimes contradictory. Some sectors are not doing as well as the Committee would have expected. In particular, many small and medium-sized businesses have not yet dealt with the potential problem of computers or integrated chips. In addition, the health care sector requires additional financial support to ensure that it is fully compliant before the new millennium.

Some sectors, notably agriculture, are only now being provided with the information necessary to allow them to assess the impact of the Year 2000 problem and to start planning solutions. The agricultural sector may well need additional support to help farmers become Year 2000 compliant. Last year’s ice storm made Committee members aware that generators or back-up heating systems are essential in rural areas.

The Committee was pleased to see that the main stakeholders involved in emergency preparedness, including all levels of government, are actively working on contingency plans to cover many of the possible Year 2000 problems including the inevitable glitches which have not yet been identified.

"Canadians should be reassured that this important issue is being addressed, but should not become complacent," said Susan Whelan, MP and Chair of the Standing Committee on Industry. "By working together, Canadians, business and all governments can solve the problems associated with Y2K, but the pace of action must be accelerated."

The Committee is now preparing its second interim report based on the Fall hearings and expects to table a report in early February 1999. It anticipates holding a third round of hearings from April to June 1999.

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For further information, please contact:
Susan Whelan,
Chair of the Standing Committee on Industry
Tel: (613) 992-1812
Daniel Brassard,
Researcher
Tel: (613) 995-6494

BACKGROUNDER

The House of Commons Standing Committee on Industry has been examining the Year 2000 computer problem, or Millennium Bug, since 1996. At that time, it seemed hard to imagine that shortening the year to two digits in computer programs and in microprocessor embedded chips (found in VCRs, fax machines, telecommunication systems, computerised control systems, etc.) could cause such problems when the year goes from 1999 to 2000.

The Committee decided last Spring that it was only prudent to highlight the importance and urgency of the Year 2000 problem in its first interim report entitled The Year 2000 Problem ― Where Is Canada Now? on May 14, 1998. This Report contained 26 recommendations. The Federal government, in its reply on October 6, 1998, agreed to implement or support almost all of the recommendations. The Committee is appreciative of the positive response to that Interim Report from the federal government and others.

The Committee has made a commitment to actively monitor the Year 2000 problem in Canada. The second round of hearings provided the Committee with an update on how well many sectors of the economy were dealing with the Year 2000 problem. The Committee also had a chance to hear from more sectors and public authorities. The Committee is now preparing its second interim report based on these hearings and expects to table this report in early February 1999. It anticipates returning to this topic in the early Summer.

The records of the Committee hearings and its previous Interim Report are available on the Committee web pages at the Parliamentary Internet site (www.parl.gc.ca).