More Communities to Go Online

The provincial and federal governments have signed an $8-million agreement to help more Nova Scotia communities go online.

The agreement, under the Community Access Program, or CAP, will
help continue the process of connecting communities, including selected Halifax neighbourhoods, to the information highway. It will result in 130 new community access sites in Nova Scotia over the next two years, more than doubling the current number.

Robbie Harrison, Minister responsible for the Technology and Science Secretariat, and federal Industry Minister John Manley signed the memorandum of agreement today. It calls for each government to invest $4 million over three years.

"Under the terms of this agreement, Nova Scotia looks forward to continuing a strong partnership with Industry Canada and with other partners to take full advantage of the potential of the CAP network for enhancing community economic and social development," said Mr. Harrison. "From a government service perspective, the CAP network also offers an excellent mechanism for improving service delivery to Nova Scotian communities."

"This agreement helps empower Nova Scotians to seize the opportunities offered by the global knowledge-based economy," said Mr. Manley. "It also helps the government reach its goal of making Canada the world's most connected nation by the year 2000."

Through the Community Access Program, the federal government aims to connect up to 10,000 rural and urban communities by the end of fiscal 2000.

The program is a key component of the Connecting Canadians Strategy, which helps create jobs, growth and other benefits associated with the development of the information highway. As well, the program is an integral part of federal and provincial youth employment strategies. CAP sites aid job opportunities and skills development for Canadians aged 15-30. In 1998, more than 175 young people in Nova Scotia joined some 1,000 other young Canadians who have taken advantage of work opportunities provided by CAP.

The program is a primary component of the Nova Scotia Information Economy Initiative, which was announced in May 1998. The initiative is a comprehensive partnered project designed to further develop world-class information technology infrastructure and capabilities in Nova Scotia.

The Nova Scotia component of the Community Access Program will be administered through the Nova Scotia Technology and Science Secretariat and Industry Canada.