The CEO of the Bruce County Library System says it’s good news and he’ll feel better about it when he gets a confirmation letter saying the funding will remain.
Marzio Apolloni is referring to the earlier announcement that the federal government was cutting Community Access Programming, effectively ending internet access for some rural residents.
However, yesterday afternoon Industry Minister Tony Clement says the Rural Broadband Strategy will foot the bill for community access sites, such as libraries, while his department’s Community Access Program is wound down.
Apolloni says the announcement says to him that rural Ontario has a voice and if they’re riled up, senior governments will hear from them.
The good news is with the funding coming in, the library system will be able to hire students this year, to help new internet users.
Organizations that benefit from Industry Canada’s 16-year-old Community Access Program began receiving letters last week informing them that sites located within 25 kilometres of a public library would no longer be eligible for cash.
Apolloni says he received his letter this past Monday.
But after The Canadian Press reported on the letters, Clement called a news conference to announce that Ottawa will ensure those groups will continue to receive funding.
Clement said the Rural Broadband Strategy will fund community groups over the next few years until rural households are provided with Internet access.
Apolloni says it flies in the face of logic to cut a service that is relatively inexpensive and yet has far-reaching implications.