Elimination of the Community Access Program

Since 1994, the Community Access Program (CAP) provided free public access to computers and high speed internet at libraries across Canada. The program has been particularly important for rural and remote communities and for Canada’s less well-off and vulnerable populations.

While the Conservative government says the program has “outlived its usefulness,” local libraries which provide the service say otherwise. According to the Canadian Library Association (CLA) April 2012 press release:

The continued need for CAP programs is borne out by users: at sites across Canada, indications are that use of the computers, as well as for assistance, have been constant or are increasing. CAP operators report that many of the most remote sites serve as community gathering and sharing spaces where there are no others, and that public libraries depend on CAP sites to deliver their services remotely.

Without public access points, internet access will not be available to many Canadians who cannot afford the costs of broadband. As the CLA points out, only 79% of Canadian households have internet connections and 54% of those who don’t are in the lowest income bracket.

CAP programs provide much more than connected computers… they provide training and help to the public to increase their digital literacy. Without this assistance disadvantaged groups would not be able to benefit from the ability to connect with information and services essential to their well-being.

The government is fully aware that the decision to eliminate CAP will have a disproportionate effect on the most vulnerable Canadians. Industry Canada’s own Internal Audit indicates that “the digital divide continues to persist in Canada among a number of demographic groups including Canadians in rural and remote communities, low income earners, those with low levels of literacy and education, francophones over 50 years of age, seniors and others.”