The Honourable Mitch Murphy, Minister of Technology and Environment and Minister Responsible for the Community Access Program in PEI, together with Industry Canada and 38 Community Access Program (CAP) Sites, announced today the official launch of the PEI CAP Web Site. The PEI web site is a unique information tool which profiles Island communities and the ongoing work to link rural communities to the emerging knowledge-based economy. The PEI CAP web site can be found at www.peicaps.org
The web site was constructed by users of CAP sites with coordination provided by the communities of Vernon River and Wellington. As the web site evolves, communities will continue to add information and be hosted on a CAP server in Wellington. The Industry Canada/PEI Department of Technology and Environment Agreement to provide universal access to Islanders has been achieved through 46 access points in the province. The focus now shifts to offering Islanders education and government services delivery points.
"The provincial web site is an important step toward achieving a greater level of community interaction and promotion," says Minister Murphy. "The launch of the PEI CAP web site is also a celebration of the achievements of Island communities through their dedication and commitment to our increasing knowledge and opportunities in rural communities."
Special features of the PEI web site include: links to community web sites which include information on individual CAP sites, as well as the local community; a weekly CAP Newsletter; links to other sites of interest to CAP and its users; and a variety of software, educational and community resources including a message board, history of CAP and a tourist page.
Through the Community Access Program, the federal government aims to connect up to 10,000 remote, rural and urban communities by the year 2000. The program is a key component of the Canadian Strategy for the Information Highway, which helps create jobs, growth and other benefits associated with the development of information technology. Prince Edward Island continues to lead all provinces in terms of connectivity. With 46 CAP sites and all Island schools and libraries connected to the World Wide Web, PEI has been able to achieve universal access for Islanders.
For more information, contact Grant Sweet, Dept. Of Technology and Environment, (902) 368-6435, or by e-mail: gsweet.cap@pei.sympatico.ca