[Advisors] last minute advocacy before the budget

[Marita Moll]

Hello all.  This last minute advocacy idea from=20
Monique is a good one and I hope everyone will=20
take up the challenge. They have sent the letter=20
below to all MPs.  But we can reinforce this=20
effort by also making sure MPs also get a copy from people in their riding.

And just a reminder to make sure those post cards get sent out as well.

 From here in Ottawa, I can only assure you that=20
things are looking dismal, very dismal as far as the budget is concerned.

Marita

>
>From: advisors-admin@tc.ca=20
>[mailto:advisors-admin@tc.ca] On Behalf Of Monique Chartrand
>Sent: March-09-12 11:12 AM
>To: 'TC Advisors'
>Subject: [Advisors] L'importance des programmes=20
>d'inclusion num=E9rique de tous les Canadiennes et Canadiens
>
>
>Bonjour =E0 vous,
>
>Voici un message que nous venons de transmettre=20
>=E0 l'ensemble des =E9lus canadiens et qu=E9b=E9cois. Quarter to midnight !
>
>Bonne journ=E9e =E0 vous,
>Monique
>
>
>English will follow
>
>
>
>Mesdames, Messieurs,
>
>
>A l'aube du prochain budget de notre=20
>gouvernement, nous souhaitons vous exprimer=20
>l'importance de maintenir et de d=E9velopper les=20
>programmes d'inclusion num=E9rique nationaux afin=20
>d'assurer que tous les Canadiennes et Canadiens=20
>puissent acc=E9der et utiliser efficacement les=20
>technologies en constante =E9volution.
>
>
>Comme vous le savez, largement gr=E2ce au support=20
>du programme d'acc=E8s communautaire (PAC) et de=20
>son initiative jeunesse (IJ-PAC), les centres=20
>d'acc=E8s communautaires =E0 Internet sont =E0 la base=20
>d=92un immense r=E9seau national de lieux qui aident=20
>chaque ann=E9e des centaines de milliers de=20
>personnes =E0 int=E9grer les nouvelles technologies=20
>dans leur vie. Ces centres et leurs jeunes=20
>animatrices et animateurs offrent des formations=20
>aux logiciels, de l=92aide =E0 la recherche=20
>d=92emploi, un acc=E8s =E0 plusieurs services et une=20
>opportunit=E9 de meilleure int=E9gration culturelle.=20
>S=92alliant aux secteurs public et priv=E9 et gr=E2ce=20
>=E0 un personnel exp=E9riment=E9, ils offrent=20
>=E9galement plusieurs services compl=E9mentaires, du=20
>montage vid=E9o =E0 la cr=E9ation de sites Web =E0=20
>l'innovation par les usages. Ainsi, des milliers=20
>de jeunes stagiaires du projet IJ-PAC acqui=E8rent=20
>une exp=E9rience hors du commun qui leur permet de devenir des citoyens=
 actifs.
>
>
>Dans un monde o=F9 l'acc=E8s =E0 Internet est vital=20
>pour toutes les dimensions de la vie, le besoin=20
>pour des programmes d'inclusion num=E9rique est en=20
>croissance. Les centres d'acc=E8s communautaire =E0=20
>Internet sont au c=9Cur de l'appropriation des=20
>technologies par l'ensemble de la population.=20
>Ils sont les t=E9moins privil=E9gi=E9s que la=20
>litt=E9ratie num=E9rique contribue =E0 une meilleure=20
>sant=E9 (t=E9l=E9m=E9decine et acc=E8s =E0 l'information=20
>m=E9dicale), participe au d=E9veloppement =E9conomique=20
>(affaires =E9lectroniques et achats en ligne) et=20
>facilite l'=E9panouissement des personnes et des=20
>groupes (formation =E0 distance, collaboration=20
>internationale, acc=E8s =E0 la culture).
>
>
>La contribution des centres d'acc=E8s=20
>communautaire =E0 Internet, des travailleurs et=20
>des b=E9n=E9voles appuie largement les efforts=20
>d=92Industrie Canada. Les groupes communautaires=20
>ont des ressources limit=E9es et ne peuvent =E0 eux=20
>seuls combler les besoins de la population.
>
>
>Pour ces raisons, nous demandons au gouvernement=20
>canadien de maintenir, actualiser et =E9tendre ces=20
>programmes. Sachez que vous aurez le plein=20
>support de notre communaut=E9 dans le=20
>d=E9veloppement d'une nouvelle vision pour un Canada num=E9rique.
>
>
>Cordialement,
>
>
>Monique Chartrand
>
>Directrice g=E9n=E9rale
>
>Communautique
>
>514 948-6644
>
>1 877 948-6644
>
>____
>
>
>
>Dear Sir, Madam,
>
>
>
>In light of the forthcoming budget from our=20
>government, we wish to express to you the=20
>importance of maintaining and developing=20
>national programs for digital inclusion in order=20
>to assure that all Canadians can use and have=20
>access to technologies in constant evolution.
>
>
>
>As you know, to a large extent, thanks to the=20
>support of the community access program (PAC)=20
>and its youth initiative (IJ-PAC), the Internet=20
>community access centers are at the core of an=20
>immense national network of places that every=20
>year, help hundreds of thousands of people to=20
>integrate new technologies into their lives.=20
>These centers and their young coordinators offer=20
>training courses for different software, help=20
>with job searching, offer access to several=20
>services as well as an opportunity for better cultural integration.
>
>
>
>Working within both public and private sectors,=20
>due to an experienced personnel, the centers=20
>also offer several complementary services that=20
>range from video editing to website creation to=20
>innovation through uses. Thus, the thousands of=20
>young interns that take part in the IJ-PAC=20
>project acquire a unique experience that allows them to become active=
 citizens.
>
>
>
>In a world where Internet access is vital in all=20
>dimensions of life, the need for digital=20
>inclusion programs is growing. The Internet=20
>community access centers are at the heart of the=20
>population's appropriation of technologies. They=20
>are the privileged witnesses which prove that=20
>digital literacy contributes to better health=20
>(remote access medical assistance and access to=20
>medical information), contributes to economic=20
>development (electronic business and online=20
>purchases) and facilitates the growth of=20
>individuals and groups (remote training,=20
>international collaboration, access to culture).
>
>
>
>The contribution of the Internet community=20
>access centers as well as that of the workers=20
>and volunteers largely supports the efforts of=20
>Industries Canada. Yet, the community groups=20
>have limited resources and cannot satisfy the needs of the population=
 alone.
>
>
>
>It is for these reasons that we ask the Canadian=20
>government to maintain, update and expand these=20
>programs. Bear in mind that you will have the=20
>full support of our community in the development=20
>of a new vision for a digital Canada.
>
>
>
>Sincerely,
>
>
>
>Monique Chartrand
>
>General Director
>
>Communautique
>
>514 948-6644
>
>1 877 948-6644