Federal Government Slashes Funding to Community Access Program 

The Honourable Joan Burke, Minister of Education, is calling on the federal government to reinstate funding for the Community Access Program (CAP), which is being cut in Newfoundland and Labrador by $305,000, a 48 per cent reduction from last year. The extent of the funding reduction was just confirmed this week, after days of speculation and uncertainty as to the future of the program.  

�I immediately made direct contact with our Members of Parliament, Minister Loyola Hearn, Fabian Manning and Norm Doyle at the first indication that CAP funding could be jeopardized,� said the minister. �There have been conflicting reports coming from the department responsible, Industry Canada, about the status of CAP. On the one hand, assurances were given that funding would not be impacted and on the other hand, we were told that only transitional funding would be provided. However, it is now clear that only $68,282 will be provided by the federal government until March 31, 2007, with no indication if the program will be funded at all beyond that date.�  

Most of the 165 CAP sites are located in rural and remote areas of the province and in many communities, are the only source of public internet access. Some clients may be low-income or in receipt of income support. Others may face multiple barriers to employment. CAP is a means to get services available on-line, to get help with basic skills such as resume writing, and to take distance education courses and technology training. In addition, other agencies use the CAP sites to deliver programs in more rural communities.  

�It�s hard to comprehend why the federal government would cut a program like this, given the importance of the Internet and technology in today�s world,� said Minister Burke. �Technology and innovation are viewed globally as cornerstones to economic growth and prosperity and our government contributes millions to the information technology sector. Yet we have a federal government slashing funding to a program that provides a very basic technological service that is essential for full participation and inclusion in the community. I am extremely discouraged to see such a regressive decision.�  

A key location for CAP sites is public libraries. Shawn Tetford, is the executive director of the Newfoundland and Labrador Public Libraries. �The funding put forward by the federal government is completely inadequate to maintain 90 CAP sites for this period of time. The connectivity costs alone for this period are $56,000.  When one considers that we need to replace approximately 100 computers per year as well as printers, scanners, printer cartridges and software and it is easy to see that this amount is insufficient to sustain the current levels of public computer access.  With that amount of funding the best we could

do is pay the connectivity costs for approximately 57 of our 90 sites.  Unfortunately, there would be nothing to cover the connectivity costs for the other 33 sites or to replace computers and the other equipment. Unless the funding is restored, people will certainly see an erosion of services.�  

The funding cut also means the loss of four positions within the Department of Education and, as a result, the loss of support to individual sites in such areas as management, technical advice and training.  

The Government of Newfoundland and Labrador will continue to provide the funding it has committed under the federal/provincial cost-shared agreement for the Community Access Program. �We entered into a partnership with the federal government to deliver this program and we will not reduce our contribution to $68,282, as the federal government has,� said Minister Burke. �Otherwise, the sites would never be able to remain open until the end of March. The participation of the federal government is critical for CAP sites to keep operating beyond March 31.� 

The minister said she is also extremely discouraged that the federal government has cut over $780,000 to local literacy organizations and programs. �We have recognized that education is critical to our self-reliance, both on an individual basis and for our province overall and we have invested an additional $100 million in our education system this year alone. As we take responsible steps and invest millions of dollars to improve our social and economic outlook, the federal government is pulling funding that helps some of our most vulnerable citizens.�  

During the September 29 meeting of the Council of Ministers of Education, Canada (CMEC) in Newfoundland and Labrador, provincial and territorial education ministers agreed to bring their concerns about the literacy funding cuts forward to the federal government. �I will be meeting with Diane Finley, Minister of Human Resources and Skills Development, in the coming weeks in my role as chair of the CMEC, to discuss the implications of these funding cuts on the many people in this province and across Canada who rely on community-based literacy programs. The federal government must be accountable for reneging on its partnership with the provinces and territories to provide valuable social programming to all citizens.�    

Media contact:
Jacquelyn Howard
Director of Communications
Department of Education
709-729-0048, 689-2624
jacquelynhoward@gov.nl.ca 

2006 10 11                                                        5:00 p.m.