[Advisors] ltr for Tony Clement
Norah Fountain
norah at creativehouse.com
Thu, 05 Jan 2012 14:00:39 -0500
Yup. Two kicks is good. Go for it Lynda and Marita - I'll support any way I
can.
On 05/01/12 1:52 PM, "Marita Moll" <mmoll@ca.inter.net> wrote:
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> Well, I saw this as a letter from TC (rather than directly from your
> area). I thought that you might then use it as an attachment to a
> cover letter expressing your local concerns (again).
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> We don't know if he (Clement or one of his advisors) will meet with
> us (TC) here in Ottawa. He might, though, agree to meet with you
> folks at the local constituency office -- at least he should.
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> This strategy, I hope, gives us 2 kicks at the can.
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> Marita
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> At 03:46 PM 04/01/2012, you wrote:
>> Good letter, I'll get my Board of Directors chair to sign it. I would a=
lso
>> be interested in attending such a meeting if it is arranged. I might al=
so
>> have a board member that can come.
>>=20
>> 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
>>=20
>>=20
>> -----Original Message-----
>> From: advisors-admin@tc.ca [mailto:advisors-admin@tc.ca] On Behalf Of Ma=
rita
>> Moll
>> Sent: January-04-12 3:21 PM
>> To: advisors@tc.ca
>> Subject: [Advisors] ltr for Tony Clement
>>=20
>>=20
>> 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 wo=
rk
>> for you? Would one of you attend this meeting -- if we get one?
>>=20
>>=20
>> Dear Minister Clement
>>=20
>>=20
>> In the early days of the Internet (1994), the Canadian federal governmen=
t
>> initiated a program that supported community based Internet access. You=
are
>> very familiar with this program called CAP. We know it plays an importa=
nt
>> role in your riding. We also know it needs complete rebranding. Access=
,
>> though still important and necessary, is no longer what drives this prog=
ram.
>> Rather, it is its role as an incubator of community innovation and ICT
>> skills training that provides value. It is very cost-effective, but sti=
ll
>> needs some basic level of support to achieve the stability necessary to =
run
>> such programs.
>>=20
>> We know there is a feeling, in the policy community, that the CAP progra=
m 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, the=
y
>> 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.
>>=20
>> Here are a few reports describing the situation in various areas:
>>=20
>> . 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 librari=
es
>> 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 sys=
tem
>> 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 cent=
ers.
>> There are no CAP sites located in libraries in Montreal that receive you=
th
>> interns from CAP-YI. No youth interns =3D 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 complet=
ing
>> 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.
>>=20
>> 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 shoul=
d be
>> promoted, not discouraged.
>>=20
>> . 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 Nati=
on
>> 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.
>>=20
>> Minister Clement, you were quoted in the Ottawa Citizen on January 4 say=
ing
>> you "would like to let citizens make more decisions on local matters, ra=
ther
>> 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 economi=
c
>> benefits the communities themselves have identified as important obvious=
ly
>> follows that model. Closing down sites not connected to libraries will
>> strangle creative community innovation activity growing out of these sit=
es.
>> This would be a step backwards in digital economy time.
>>=20
>> 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/econo=
mic
>> development and wealth creation, this program can continue to be a golde=
n
>> opportunity to "connect"
>> with Canadians around technology in a cost effective way. We are commit=
ted
>> to finding creative solutions to save this valuable program. We are ask=
ing
>> for your help.
>>=20
>> Sincerely
>>=20
>>=20
>> Gareth Shearman
>>=20
>>=20
>>=20
>> _______________________________________________
>> Advisors mailing list
>> Advisors@tc.ca
>> http://victoria.tc.ca/mailman/listinfo/advisors
>=20
>=20
>=20
> _______________________________________________
> Advisors mailing list
> Advisors@tc.ca
> http://victoria.tc.ca/mailman/listinfo/advisors
>=20
--=20
=20
Norah Fountain=20
Communications Specialist
Your message is my life=B9s work.
T: 705.762.2122
May your communications be clear and always effective throughout 2012!