Beginning this week, a new type of card is being delivered to households across Prince Edward Island to help Islanders harness the power and potential of the information highway.
The cards are being delivered jointly by the Governments of Canada and Prince Edward Island as part of a pilot project to help Island residents increase their Internet use for both business and communication purposes. They are free and come with an invitation to visit a public access site to learn more about the Internet.
"This project demonstrates the Government of Canada's strong commitment to making our country more and more competitive in today's global, knowledge-based economy," said Lawrence MacAulay, Solicitor General of Canada, on behalf of John Manley, Minister of Industry. "The Internet is a powerful tool that can be utilized for economic and social development by all Canadians, no matter where they live."
"The choice of Prince Edward Island for this innovative and leading-edge pilot project demonstrates the province's leadership in exploring the benefits of the Internet and in enhancing knowledge-based opportunities for Islanders," said Mitch Murphy, Minister of Technology and Environment.
Upon visiting a public Internet access site, users swipe their cards through a computer to connect with the Access network on the World Wide Web. With free on-line registration, users receive a "portal" or personal opening page they can build from a number of recommended Web links or "channels."
Once built, the portal may contain channels for communicating with friends and relatives, finding news and other information, or connecting with government and community services. The portal can be saved for immediate or future use, or adapted later as the user's computer skills develop.
The goal of the pilot project being launched in P.E.I. is to attract more novice users to the Internet and to help them organize jumbles of Web information in a more convenient way. Related objectives are to increase on-line information about Prince Edward Island and Island businesses as well as jobs and advancements in information technology.
The pilot project runs until October 1999, when feedback from users will be collected to enhance the service as needed. This pilot is part of the federal government's Connecting Canadians strategy, aimed at making Canada the world's most connected nation by the year 2000.
For more information, please contact: Charlotte Murray, Provincial Director, Prince Edward Island, Industry Canada, (902) 566-7311, (902) 426-6094 (fax), murray.charlotte@ic.gc.ca; Derek MacEwen, Project Manager, Innovative Solutions Agency, (902) 628-3738, (902) 628-4660 (fax), dbmacewen@deltaware.com; or David Reid, Manager, Community Passport, Community Access Program, Industry Canada, (613) 991-1256, (613) 952-8711 (fax), reid.david@ic.gc.ca
BACKGROUNDER
Soon, households across Prince Edward Island will receive in the mail a new type of plastic card. The cards are stamped "access.ca" and are issued jointly by the provincial and federal governments to help increase Island residents' computer use to promote increased on-line communication and electronic commerce. They are free and come with an invitation for users to visit one of many Community Access Program (CAP) public sites to learn more about the Internet.
The pilot project is being launched to attract more novice users to the Internet and to help them organize jumbles of Web information in a more convenient way. Related objectives are to increase on-line information about Prince Edward Island and stimulate electronic commerce, especially among small- and medium-sized businesses.
Upon visiting a CAP site, users swipe their cards through a computer to connect with the Access network on the World Wide Web. With free on-line registration, users receive a "portal" or personal opening page they can build from a number of recommended Web links or "channels."
Once built, the portal may contain channels for communicating with friends and relatives, finding news and other information, or connecting with government and community services. The portal can be saved for immediate or future use, or adapted later as the user's computer skills develop.
Users' privacy will be protected at all times, with access to personal portals guarded by confidential passwords. The access card itself contains no personal information and therefore poses no privacy risk. If it is lost, users can ask for a replacement from their local CAP centre. Users are in fact encouraged to share the access cards with family, friends and even out-of-province guests.
Islanders who have their own computer with Internet access can simply type in "access.ca" on their Web browser. This will link them with the Access network, where they can register and build their own portals at home or at the office.
Tourists and other visitors to PEI are also encouraged to obtain and use the new access cards to see what Internet services are available in the province which they can access back home.
Users will also benefit from free advice given by the experienced resource person on staff at each CAP site. This person can help the user choose the best channels to serve his or her needs.
CAP sites offer free or low-cost computer services, with on-line links to other communities across Canada and around the world. They also provide knowledgeable staff to answer questions, offer Internet advice and help users get connected.
There are more than 50 CAP sites located in communities throughout Prince Edward Island. Many are located in schools, community centres and libraries. Across Canada, there are now more than 4000 sites.
Through CAP, the Government of Canada aims to help establish up to 10,000 access sites in remote, rural and urban settings by March 31, 2001. Since 1995, CAP has supported public Internet access sites serving more than 150 rural and remote communities in Prince Edward Island.
The program is a key component of the federal government's Connecting Canadians strategy, which aims to make Canada the world's most connected nation by the year 2000 to help create jobs, growth and other benefits associated with the development of information technology.
For this pilot project, CAP is working in partnership with the Prince Edward Island Ministry of Technology and Environment.
The pilot project runs until October, when users' feedback will be collected and used to enhance the service as needed. The costs are paid by Industry Canada under Connecting Canadians. Roll-out of the Access network to other provinces and territories is expected by next spring.
Each public Internet access site in the province is administered by local community and business organizations. Start-up assistance and up to 50 per cent co-funding are provided by Industry Canada in partnership with the Ministry of Technology and Environment.