Computer funding worries MLA
Access funding being transferred late after society status issue solved
Casey Lessard
Northern News Services
Monday, March 9, 2015
IQALUIT
Logging more than 13,000 users, Iqaluit's public computer access option serves an important role in the lives of those who cannot afford a computer or Internet access at home.
Casey Lessard/NNSL file photo
Former Premier Eva Aariak announced funding in 2012 to pay for Community Access Program sites across Nunavut after the federal government ended its funding of the program. Iqaluit-Tasiluk MLA George Hickes brought a funding lapse to the public's attention. - |
But a bureaucratic hiccup means the Nunavut Community Access Program (NCAP) – which oversees such services across the territory – has been and will be unfunded until a cheque is cut this week because the society's status was not up to date.
"They will have the money in the coming week some time," Department of Education spokesperson Wende Halonen said March 6, after NCAP brought its status into good standing as of March 3. Each site gets its funds directly from NCAP, Halonen said.
The situation came to light in the legislature Feb. 24, when Iqaluit-Tasiluk MLA George Hickes sounded the alarm.
"Not only in Iqaluit, but in different communities that have CAP sites, they are able to get operating funding only if their society is in good order," Education Minister Paul Quassa said in response to questions from the MLA. "We know that in Iqaluit, the society status is not quite completed or … has a bit of a problem and there's no direction to run the funds. If their society status is in order, then they are able to get some funds through proposals."
The federal government ended its support of the program in 2012, arguing that all Canadians now have access in their homes. The Government of Nunavut disagreed and stepped in to cover the costs, $85,500, for Internet service, supplies and equipment at 24 locations in 20 communities.
"The CAP is important for making resumes, and finding out where jobs are," the former premier at the time, Eva Aariak, said. "CAP projects have helped young people learn video, audio, film and television production skills, and elders have felt empowered by sharing their knowledge and learning the skills they need to access information."
Hickes asked what the government was doing to fix the situation.
"I support this initiative however, each organization has to incorporate themselves independently especially if they are to offer this program to members of the public," Quassa responded, noting the Department of Education is not responsible for maintaining the society's registry.
Hickes said the Iqaluit CAP site is driving foot traffic at the library, enhancing its ability to offer more programming, such as "literacy programs, including weekly preschool story times, a summer reading club, an adult book club, Saturday literacy programs, Inuktitut family story time, French family story time, family drop-in programming, and special cultural programming," in English, Inuktitut and French, he noted, calling on the government to increase its funding.
In the interim, as the society awaits its funding, Quassa hopes the program will continue to operate.
"We encourage communities to allow residents to use the Computer Access Program where it exists, and to ensure their societal status is up to date," Quassa said.
