The Community Access Program (CAP, also seen as C@P) was an initiative of the Government of Canada which aimed to provide Canadians with affordable public access to the Internet and the skills they need to use it effectively. The program was administered by Industry Canada.
In 1994 the Community Access Program began. Initially, Industry Canada focused on rural communities, where Internet access was less available. Once the rural communities were equipped with computers and Internet access, Industry Canada focused on what is referred to as the digital divide. According to Statistics Canada 2001, the following groups were in highest need of services offered by CAP: Aboriginals, older Canadians, Canadians with low income or low education, francophone, new immigrants, and people in rural areas. Therefore, the focus was primarily to assist in 'Bridging the Digital Divide'.
CAP Sites in rural and urban areas were then opened to help reach these people. The program played a crucial role in bridging the Digital Divide; contributing to the foundation for electronic access to government services; encouraging online learning and literacy; fostering the development of community based infrastructure; promoting Canadian e-commerce; and providing training with Assistive Technology. In order to make better use of the computers and equipment funded by CAP, Industry Canada also initiated the Community Access Program - Youth Initiative (CAP YI). CAP Sites could apply for funding to hire Youth Interns to come and work in their CAP Sites to train the public in computer and Internet use and technology.
The CAP program was terminated on March 31, 2012 as funding for the program was not renewed. Industry Canada stated that the program had reached its objective, and cited challenging fiscal times. Some provinces maintained their program thanks to large financial contributions from the provincial government, municipalities and libraries. [1] [2] The CAP YI (Youth Initiative) program continues to receive funding. [3]
The Community Access Program (CAP) Youth Initiative (YI) was coordinated by Industry Canada's Community Access Program and funded through the Youth Employment Strategy (YES) of Canada -- overseen by Human Resources and Social Development Canada (HRSDC). CAP's youth initiative aimed to provide employment opportunities for young Canadians between the ages of 15 and 30 - primarily students, recent graduates, or the under-employed or unemployed.
Industry Canada's Community Access Program (CAP) gave thousands of Canadians affordable access to the Internet. CAP sites were located in public locations such as schools, community centers, and libraries. They provided access in locations that are geographically remote (e.g. on parts of Cape Breton Island [4] ) or served populations subject to the digital divide. [5] Sites were established and maintained by community networks, generally in partnership with Municipal and Provincial Governments. There were CAP sites located in all of the provinces and territories of Canada. [6]
The Nova Scotia Community Access Program continued after the loss of federal funding in 2012, and continues to operate as @NS. [7]
Cape Breton University (CBU), formerly known as the "University College of Cape Breton" (UCCB), is a university in the Cape Breton Regional Municipality, Nova Scotia, Canada. Located near Sydney, CBU is the only post-secondary degree-granting institution on Cape Breton Island. The university is enabled by the Cape Breton University Act passed by the Nova Scotia House of Assembly. Prior to this, CBU was enabled by the University College of Cape Breton Act (amended). The University College of Cape Breton's Coat of Arms were registered with the Canadian Heraldic Authority on May 27, 1995.
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A digital divide is any uneven distribution in the access to, use of, or impact of Information and Communication Technologies (ICT) between any number of distinct groups. These groups may be defined based on social, geographical, or geopolitical criteria, or otherwise. Because of ICT high cost, its adoption and utilization is highly uneven across the globe.
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The digital divide in the United States refers to inequalities between individuals, households, and other groups of different demographic and socioeconomic levels in access to information and communication technologies ("ICTs") and in the knowledge and skills needed to effectively use the information gained from connecting. The global digital divide refers to inequalities in access, knowledge, and skills, but designates countries as the units of analysis and examines the divide between developing and developed countries on an international scale.
The digital divide in Canada refers to the discrepancy that exists between Canadians who have access to information and communication technologies (ICT) and the benefits they provide compared to those who don't. This divide can be the result of many factors including high costs for technology and online access, differences in the availability of online connectivity resources in different locations across the country, and lacking digital literacy. The digital divide in Canada also stems from income inequality among Canadians and differences in online connectivity practices exhibited by those of different age, gender, first language, and cultural background.
The digital divide is an economic and social inequality with regard to access to, use of, or impact of information and communication technologies (ICT). Factors causing the divide can vary depending on the country and culture, as can the potential solutions for minimizing or closing the divide.