Mark Blevis

The Digital Influence Index (DII), a research study conducted by Fleishman-Hillard and Harris Interactive, revealed Canadian online behaviour skews toward current events and politics. The study found that in arriving at our own points of view, we Canadians typically seek out multiple sources of information and land somewhere of our own informed creation. So, it’s no surprise there are many online sources of political information provided by mainstream media (and their journalists), political organizations, pundits and enthusiasts.

Despite the number of political websites and blogs, I’ve been a party to many conversations about the potential for cutting edge online political coverage in which the political set and journalists use Politico.com and other successful US-based sites as frames of reference.

A new website hopes to change all of that — beginning just over than three hours from now. That’s when someone will flip a digital switch to turn a holding page into a new political hub for Canada — iPolitics.ca (no relation to Apple’s long line of i products and services).

James Baxter is one of the people behind the new site. Mr. Baxter is a journalist who’s career includes being a Canadian Correspondent for GlobalPost, the Alberta Legislature Bureau Chief for Canwest News Service and a Fellow at the Nieman Foundation of Harvard University.

In a letter introducing the new site, Mr. Baxter offers reasons for iPolitics.ca which support the findings of the DII:

iPolitics.ca has been developed with two guiding principles in mind: First, Canadians need access to information about the activities of the federal and provincial governments to make intelligent business and life choices. Second, Canadians deserve a venue where this country’s unique political personalities and policy issues are reported fairly, discussed by experts, and debated in an open arena, all in a timely and efficient manner.

So, don’t be surprised if you hear iPolitics.ca called out by journalists at scrums and political events. They’ll need to be engaged if they’re going to have an impact on #cdnpoli.