The Harper government's decision to cut the Community Access Program (CAP), which is used, in part, to help pay for public Internet terminals in libraries, is bad news for Sundre, says librarian and town councillor Michael Baird.
Industry Canada recently sent letters to communities across Canada saying the program would not be renewed. The decision to end the program was part of a cost-cutting budget, the department said.
In response to the program cut, Baird has written to Wild Rose Conservative MP Blake Richards saying the cutback will cause hardship for many residents.
He explained that the Sundre library has 15 public access computers. Last year those computers were used 2,682 times, which translates into 178 times a day for each of the 200 days the library was open.
“As a rural library we offer access on a daily basis to Canadian citizens who are blocked by technology and/or cost of having Internet in their home,” says Baird.
He calls Internet access an essential service that all residents should have access to regardless of income.
“With changes to federal and provincial government service, many applications and forms are now only available online,” he said, citing examples such as seniors filling out old age pension forms and persons making Employment Insurance claims.
As well, the library's WiFi is used by important community organizations such as Greenwood Neighbourhood Place, he said.
“There is no question that technology made available through CAP has touched the lives of people in our community,” he said. “Now that CAP funding is disappearing, decisions about our future become more and more like choices on amputation. The decision is not how can we serve our community, but what can we cut off and live without? This is very disappointing.
“I am sure I have a shared voice when I ask what you are going to do to ensure that libraries have another option for funding community access to technology, a vital service for Canadians.”
In a Round Up interview, MP Blake Richards said the CAP program has run its course. However, he also says he plans to have his staff contact the Sundre library to discuss alternatives..
“We will follow up with them and see what we can do to find other programs they can apply for,” said Richards. “There are other programs we can point them to.”
