[Advisors] ltr to InCan -- vers.2

[Lynda Rickard]

This is a good letter.  We are planning to write another letter to our
Kawartha Lakes MP, and will encourage our Network of Simcoe, Muskoka,
Haliburton to do the same, we have 60 CAP sites in our regional network.
If a letter was sent from every network it might be worthwhile.  We have
also created postcards, which we will have our patrons sign and mail.

Lynda Rickard, Executive Director
Technology Alliance Group for Kawartha Lakes
50 Mary St. W., (front)
LINDSAY, ON    K9V 2N6
(705) 878-9261
(800) 407-6419
Focused on Helping People


-----Original Message-----
From: advisors-admin@tc.ca [mailto:advisors-admin@tc.ca] On Behalf Of =
Marita
Moll
Sent: January-03-12 3:29 PM
To: advisors@tc.ca
Cc: Monique Chartrand; patrick Dube
Subject: [Advisors] ltr to InCan -- vers.2

Thanks to excellent feedback, here is a new version of the letter to Mr.
Winchester.  This letter, with a few changes, can also serve as a letter =
to
Tony Clement.  Anyone else -- Peter Mackay? I think it is about as long =
as
we should make it, but I will take a few more suggestions if they come =
from
regions not yet represented.

Dear Mr. Winchester

Please accept our best wishes for the New Year and our thanks for the
extended meeting on December 8, 2011.  We appreciated your honest =
comments
and probing questions about the current status of the CAP program.  We =
hope
we were able to communicate some of the exciting innovations currently
underway in this program which, we all agree, needs complete rebranding.

We know there is a feeling, in the policy community, that the CAP =
program is
ready to be absorbed into the library community.  We would like to =
assure
you that this is absolutely not the case. To begin with, in the context =
of
CAP delivery, the term =93library=94 has never been clearly defined. =
Libraries
vary greatly across the country.  In very small communities they might
consist of nothing more than a few shelves of books and the ability to =
order
books from a distant main repository.  Some are only open a few hours =
per
week and staffed by a single person.  They might be a small corner of a
rural municipal building that serves multiple functions.  Here are a few
reports describing the situation in various areas:

=B7        The =93CAP site/library  model=94 simply is=20
not representative of the reality in Quebec.  In last year=92s list of =
CAP
sites released by Industry Canada, there were only 20 registered =
libraries
among 634 CAP Sites from multiple Quebec networks.
=B7        In Nunavut, the libraries have no budget=20
for computers or technical support.  The only support they receive for
digital programs is through CAP.
=B7        In Saskatchewan, the 204 non-library CAP=20
sites have been providing internships for 10 years =96 a wealth of job
training for young Canadians.
=B7        Montreal-based Communautique reports=20
that all 88 CAP sites using youth interns were located in community =
centers.
There are no CAP sites located in libraries in Montreal that receive =
youth
interns from CAP-YI.  No youth interns =3D no ICT training capacity.
=B7        In PEI, none of the 38 CAP sites are in libraries.
=B7        In the Vancouver area, out of 102 sites,=20
only 20 of them are in libraries.
=B7        First Nation communities have very large=20
populations that depend on the CAP sites for basic tasks such as =
completing
job applications and creating resumes.  First Nation communities rarely =
have
public libraries.

However, we want to point out that this local independence is a positive
element of the CAP network that has allowed sites to become skills =
training,
economic development engines:

=B7        In Saskatchewan, the CAP sites in West=20
Central and East Central regions (136 sites) provide leadership and
resources for community and economic development. Projects in First =
Nation
communities include a 2.5 million dollar Centre of Excellence, 3 worker
co-operatives, development of small businesses on reserves, and business
training and skills development programs.
=B7        In Nova Scotia, although all public=20
libraries are part of the CAP network, CAP funding goes directly into
community development projects at the local level, supports non-library =
site
development, and provides youth employment and ICT skills development
especially in rural areas.

The most economical method of delivering a service that needs to respond =
to
quickly changing local needs is by using existing local channels.=20
We think that the CAP program (or whatever its new incarnation) reflects
this model. Closing down sites not connected to libraries will strangle
substantial community innovation activity growing out of these sites.  A
report from Nova Scotia explains, for example, that it was CAP in some =
local
areas that enabled municipalities to take part in Industry Canada=92s =
BizPal
initiative. With a new focus on social/economic development and wealth
creation, the program can continue to be a golden opportunity to =
"connect"
with Canadians around technology in a cost effective way.

We hope you will agree to take some time in January to meet with us =
again to
discuss different models that could preserve the program while lessening =
the
administration demands on Industry Canada.  We are committed to finding
creative solutions to save this valuable program.  But any solution will
require Industry Canada cooperation, so we are asking for your help.

Finally, further to the =93living labs=94 project demonstrated at the =
December
meeting, we would like to share with you the attached pictures of the =
Royal
Couple visiting one of the =93living lab=94=20
sites in Montreal during their recent royal tour.  Although this =
particular
site is part of a medical program, community installations now being =
planned
follow the same model.

Sincerely

Monique Chartrand
Patrick Dub=E9
Marita Moll
Darlene Thompson

On behalf of the Telecommunities Canada network






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