Yellowknife (Sep 29/06) -An organization that provides free computers across the NWT and Nunavut, may close in March 2007 due to government cutbacks.

The group, Computers for Schools, has received 450 machines from the federal and territorial governments to distribute to schools, libraries and non-profit organizations across the NWT.

Soumeya Movaffagh, executive-director of the Smart Community Society and delivery agent for Computers for Schools, is concerned the group may not be in operation after next spring.

Industry Canada, a division of the federal government, is looking at terminating the program and Movaffagh said she doesn't want to see that happen.

"We see every day that there is a huge need for communities," she said.

"We are still getting five to 10 requests a day from NWT and Nunavut."

The organization, which is funded through the federal government and provides computers for schools all across Canada, was founded in 1993 and has since provided 800,000 computers to Canadian schools.

She said that Industry Canada is looking to off-load the program.

"They want to see the private sector taking care of it. We are brainstorming to find ways to make the program sustainable," she said.

Movaffagh is hoping that communities they have touched will help the government realize the importance of the program.

"We want support, to get people to write letters in support of the program."

Until then, the organization is still working hard to ship out computers.

News that the program may be shutdown is causing a stir with one NWT business that has supported the initiative.

Kim Poulter, promotion and sales coordinator with First Air, said that the services the group provides to communities are those that the airline feel are important.

First Air delivers the computers to communities across the NWT free of charge.

"It would be sad to see a program such as this go," said Poulter.

Movaffagh and the organization plan to continue distributing computers across the Territories until they get shut down.

"Now, at the end of this year, we'll have touched every community."