From The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48 [gcide]:
canalize \canalize\ v.
1. to provide with a canal, as of a city.
Syn: canal.
[WordNet 1.5]
2. to to direct the flow of; -- also used abstractly, as of
money or information.
Syn: channel.
[WordNet 1.5]
From WordNet (r) 3.0 (2006) [wn]:
canalize
v 1: provide (a city) with a canal [syn: canal, canalize,
canalise]
2: direct the flow of; "channel information towards a broad
audience" [syn: channel, canalize, canalise]