Recently, the Government of Canada, through Innovation and Technologies Minister Navdeep Bains, announced “Connecting Families,” a program designed to help get some 50,000 low-income Canadian families online.

There are two aspects to the program. First, the government, through its Computers for Schools (CFS) initiative, will provide computer equipment to eligible families. Second, the government’s broadcast regulator, the CRTC, has come to an arrangement with major telecom providers to make available broadband Internet connectivity to these families at a relatively nominal monthly fee. The minimum download speed will be 10 Mbps along with a 100 GB minimum monthly data allowance, for a fee of $10 per month.

The announcement has not been without criticism. A release from the Public Interest Advocacy Centre notes that the program has a long way to go to reach all low-income Canadians, noting that seniors, and those on welfare or disability and without children, are ineligible for the newly announced program.

“We are very excited to be part of this initiative as it will have a positive impact on B.C. families and speaks to our organizational vision where everyone has equal access to technology,” said Mary-Em Waddington, Executive Director of BC Technology for Learning Society. “It brings a new challenge for us to increase the number of computer donations we need to collect and refurbish but it feels great to add families to the groups we have traditionally supported.”

In its Budget 2017, the Government of Canada rolled out its Innovation and Skills Plan, stating that “it is important to equip Canadians with the tools, skills, access, and experience they need to fully participate in the digital economy.”

It went on to state that “the Connecting Families initiative is a part of a suite of digital skills, accessibility, and Internet affordability programs that aim to bridge Canada’s digital divide. This initiative will enable and encourage the participation of more Canadians in the digital world, including those not fully comfortable with digital technology, so they too can benefit from innovation and the opportunities it brings.”

“Connecting Families” goes on to note several points central to the need for such a program as this one. “Canadians need access to fast, reliable and affordable Internet to learn, work, socialize and access Government of Canada services. Many schools require that students access Internet resources for homework projects, post-secondary institutions often provide learning and course materials online, families and friends are increasingly socializing through web-based communication tools, and the Internet is being used to search for jobs, access government services, book important appointments and find new information.”

High-speed Internet access was a talking point during the last federal election. The recent announcement by the minister notes a rather sorry statistic. “Despite the importance of high-speed Internet, almost half of Canadian households with an annual income of $30,000 or less do not have access. The Connecting Families initiative brings together public, private and non-profit sectors to ensure that more Canadian families have access to the Internet.”

Ms. Waddington, who will have responsibility for the computer technology delivery in this province,  answered some questions for the B.C. Catholic on just how the Connecting Families program will work.

What specifically does the new program offer in the way of computer technology?

It will offer a free desktop computer and monitor preloaded with Microsoft Windows 10 and the Office suite of programs.

How is eligibility for the program determined?

Families receiving 100 per cent of the Canadian Child Benefit Tax will be eligible

What is Computers for Schools and how does Computers for Schools fit into the program?

Computers for Schools is a Government of Canada program seeking to address the digital divide through the refurbishment and redistribution of donated computers to schools and other community based locations. Connecting Families seeks to remove the digital divide in the low-income family home. CFS will be instrumental in the operations and logistical rollout of Connecting Families, providing the fully refurbished computer right to the home. ‎

Has Computers for Schools been involved in similar initiatives in the past?

CFS supported Syrian families through the Welcome Refugees initiative which provided 6,000 computers to partner immigrant settlement agencies for distribution to families across Canada over a 10-month period.

About how many computer packages are expected to be deployed in B.C.?

B.C. is expected to deploy about 6,000 computers over a period of 3 1/2 years.

What is the timeframe for this computer initiative? The announcement occurred June 6, 2018. The official launch will be in October 2018 and the initiative will run to 2022.

What is need to ensure success? 

CFS relies on tech donations. Local businesses and individuals can support Connecting Families by donating their old tech equipment. Learn more at www.reusetechbc.ca.

For more information on the free computer and $10 per month 10 Mbps broadband access program visit the Government of Canada page for the Connecting Families initiative. Once the program launches, eligible participants will be contacted by mail.

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