[Advisors] ltr for Tony Clement
Lynda Rickard
lynda.rickard at tag4kl.org
Wed, 4 Jan 2012 15:46:46 -0500
Good letter, I'll get my Board of Directors chair to sign it. I would also
be interested in attending such a meeting if it is arranged. I might also
have a board member that can come.
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-04-12 3:21 PM
To: advisors@tc.ca
Subject: [Advisors] ltr for Tony Clement
I have adjusted the letter to direct it specifically to Clement. Don't miss
the cool "Clement" quote towards the end. Norah and Lynda, will this work
for you? Would one of you attend this meeting -- if we get one?
Dear Minister Clement
In the early days of the Internet (1994), the Canadian federal government
initiated a program that supported community based Internet access. You are
very familiar with this program called CAP. We know it plays an important
role in your riding. We also know it needs complete rebranding. Access,
though still important and necessary, is no longer what drives this program.
Rather, it is its role as an incubator of community innovation and ICT
skills training that provides value. It is very cost-effective, but still
needs some basic level of support to achieve the stability necessary to run
such programs.
We know there is a feeling, in the policy community, that the CAP program is
ready to be (or has already been) 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 "library" has never been
clearly defined. Libraries can be large, urban and full-service or tiny
rural satellite outposts staffed on a part-time basis. In addition, they
are often unable to take advantage of the CAP-YI program due to existing
collective agreements. They may provide public access, which is still
important and necessary in many areas, but without youth interns, their
ability to provide IT skills training or community economic development
initiatives is severely limited.
Here are a few reports describing the situation in various areas:
. The "CAP site/library model" simply is
not representative of the reality in Quebec. In last year's list of CAP
sites released by Industry Canada, there were only 20 registered libraries
among 634 CAP Sites from multiple Quebec networks.
. In Nunavut, 12 out of our 24 CAP sites
in libraries. But these sites function independently of the library system
with totally separate funding streams. If CAP funding disappears, there
would be no youth interns to teach people at these sites, no computer
upgrades and no IT support.
. In Saskatchewan, the 204 non-library CAP
sites have been providing internships for 10 years - a wealth of job
training for young Canadians.
. Montreal-based Communautique reports
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 = no ICT training capacity.
. In PEI, none of the 38 CAP sites are in libraries.
. In the Vancouver area, out of 102 sites,
only 20 of them are in libraries.
. First Nation communities have very large
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.
. In Ontario, the TAG Innovation Centre
(Lindsay), which operates a unique e-waste disposal service, is not a
library and would close if federal funding were suspended.
We want to point out is that local control of site locations and
partnerships is a positive element of the CAP network which has allowed
sites to become skills training, economic development engines. It should be
promoted, not discouraged.
. In Saskatchewan, the CAP sites in West
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.
. In Nova Scotia, although all public
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. It was CAP in some local areas that enabled
municipalities to take part in Industry Canada's BizPal initiative.
. In Nunavut, a full-fledged film industry
has grown up from early programs offered at the Clyde River CAP site
teaching residents how to handle new film technologies.
Minister Clement, you were quoted in the Ottawa Citizen on January 4 saying
you "would like to let citizens make more decisions on local matters, rather
than having bureaucrats in government offices deciding what's best for
communities." You called it "crowdsourcing". A program that uses the
creativity and innovation in the community to achieve social and economic
benefits the communities themselves have identified as important obviously
follows that model. Closing down sites not connected to libraries will
strangle creative community innovation activity growing out of these sites.
This would be a step backwards in digital economy time.
We hope you will agree to meet with us in January to discuss different
models that could preserve the program. With a new focus on social/economic
development and wealth creation, this program can continue to be a golden
opportunity to "connect"
with Canadians around technology in a cost effective way. We are committed
to finding creative solutions to save this valuable program. We are asking
for your help.
Sincerely
Gareth Shearman
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