Monday, March 22, 2010

Canada: Funding Restored for Library Internet Access


Link to March 17 Toronto Globe and Mail article, "Industry Minister announces reprieve for library Internet access program".

Excerpt:   A week after telling libraries and community groups across the country that long-standing funding for public Internet access is disappearing, the federal Conservative government now says it was all a misunderstanding.

Industry Minister Tony Clement told reporters Tuesday that $13-million in funding for the gutted Community Access Program will survive under a different name, at least for this year.

The 16-year-old program sends about $4,000 each to libraries, centres that serve youth, seniors and the unemployed, and many other sites so they can provide free computer and Internet access to Canadians who need it.

“We certainly regret any confusion that has been caused to some of the recipients of this money,” Mr. Clement said. “It is being funded through a different program, and it is in fact continuing.”

But the Industry Minister’s office made no mention late Monday of the continued funding in a response to a series of questions posed by The Canadian Press.


Related article.

Tories cut funding for library Internet access.  (3/15/2010)

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