The new Canadian Government has decided to abandon its most ICT
vulnerable citizens and is defunding the (Community) public access
(CAP) program! An article concerning this can be found in:

http://www.herald.ns.ca/NovaScotia/530922.html

[excerpt]

CAP has been cut -- officials
Loss of Internet funding major blow to rural areas, MLA says
By MONICA GRAHAM and KRISTEN LIPSCOMBE Staff Reporters


Information leaked to the chairman of CAP Nova Scotia put
Pictou-Antigonish Regional Library in overdrive Wednesday to try and
save a popular Canada-wide program.

"CAP is going to be 'sunsetted,' " said Eric Stackhouse, the region's
chief librarian, of the community Internet program.

Rumours that the federal government would cut the 11-year-old
Community Access Program were confirmed for him when Industry Canada
representatives cancelled a meeting Tuesday to discuss a program
review. Industry Canada was supposed to review the program by the end
of the month.

"It was not an official announcement, but it was close enough," he
said, adding that federal cuts to CAP were announced in Newfoundland
and Labrador last week.

He expected the program would be reinvented under another government
department but was told there's no money, and since then "there's
been absolute silence from Ottawa."

Industry Canada launched the program to make the Internet available
to people who might not have computer access otherwise. Computers in
schools, libraries and other public places are operated by volunteers
trained by CAP to help beginners.

But the "popular program, vital to small communities," is part of the
billion-dollar cuts that Ottawa announced earlier this week, Mr.
Stackhouse said.

"The feds don't realize it's not owned by them anymore," he said.
"It's owned at the community level; for every dollar contributed by
the federal government, $10 is contributed by the community."

The program has offered free Internet access in 279 communities
across Nova Scotia, said a news release issued late Wednesday by Mr.
Stackhouse.
[...]

( mgraham@...)

( klipscombe@...)