News release

54 New Community Access Sites for Nova Scotia

Technology and Science Secretariat (to Nov. 2002)

TECHNOLOGY/SCIENCE--54 New Community Access Sites for Nova Scotia


New funding for 54 Community Access Program sites across the province will give Nova Scotians even greater opportunity to explore the educational and economic potential that information technology provides, says Bruce Holland, Minister responsible for the Technology and Science Secretariat

"I'm pleased to acknowledge funding from Industry Canada for these sites," said Mr. Holland. "They are extremely vital to learners, community-based organizations, and business people in rural communities in tapping the wealth of information technology."

Industry Canada recently announced an investment of almost $15 million for more than 1,000 new Community Access Program sites in some 830 rural and remote communities across the country. It's the third year the federal department has sponsored the competition.

"The Government of Canada wants to make the Information Highway accessible to all Canadians by the year 2000, making Canada the most connected nation in the world," said John Manley, Industry Minister. "The Community Access Program, through a federal investment of more than $1 million, is helping Nova Scotians to acquire the tools they need to participate in the global knowledge-based economy."

These 54 new sites bring the total number of Community Access Program sites in the province to 109. Communities will use the funding to create community-based sites to provide public access to the Internet and other applications of information technology.

The communities were selected on the basis of proposals submitted to Industry Canada in late autumn. Proposals were evaluated first by the Nova Scotia Community Access Committee and then by the National Community Access Selection Committee. Industry Canada awarded contracts of up to $30,000 to successful proposals.

The Technology and Science Secretariat, through its Community IT Development division, has provided leadership and support to the federal program for the past six months and intends to play an even stronger role in the Community Access Program in Nova Scotia in the future.

The 15-member Nova Scotia Community Access Committee, representing various government agencies and community-based organizations, has worked closely with communities to help them submit quality proposals.

"More Nova Scotia sites were approved this year than in any former year," said provincial librarian Marion Pape, chair of the committee. "Not only is this indicative of the increased awareness of and the interest in the Community Access Program,

but it also points to the excellence of the proposals submitted by communities."

This press release and other documents produced by the Technology & Science Secretariat are available on the Secretariat's Web site at: http://www.gov.ns.ca/tss/


NOTE TO EDITORS: For a list of the successful proposals from Nova
Scotia please e-mail: <rossng@gov.ns.ca.>

AU CHEF DES NOUVELLES: Ce communique est egalement disponible en francais; c. elec. <rossng@gov.ns.ca.>