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The '''Community Access Program''' (CAP, also seen as C@P) iswas an initiative of the [[Government of Canada]] which aimsaimed to provide Canadians with affordable public access to the Internet and the skills they need to use it effectively. The program iswas administered by [[Industry Canada]] as part of their youth initiative.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.ic.gc.ca/eic/site/cap-pac.nsf/eng/00006.html|accessdate=2011-10-07|title=What is CAP?|deadurl=yes|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20120301040415/http://www.ic.gc.ca/eic/site/cap-pac.nsf/eng/00006.html|archivedate=2012-03-01|df=}}</ref>
==History of CAP==
In 1994 the Community Access Program began. Initially, Industry Canada focused on rural communities, where Internet access was less available. Once the rural communities were equipped with computers and Internet access, Industry Canada focused on what is referred to as the “Digital[[digital Dividedivide]].” According to Statistics Canada 2001, the following groups arewere in highest need of services offered by CAP: Aboriginals, older Canadians, Canadians with low income or low education, francophone, new immigrants, and people in rural areas. Therefore, the focus iswas primarily to assist in 'Bridging the Digital Divide'.
CAP Sites in rural and urban areas were then opened to help reach these people. The program playsplayed a crucial role in bridging the Digital Divide; contributing to the foundation for electronic access to government services; encouraging online learning and literacy; fostering the development of community based infrastructure; promoting Canadian e-commerce; and providing training with Assistive Technology. In order to make better use of the computers and equipment funded by CAP, Industry Canada also initiated the Community Access Program - Youth Initiative (CAP YI). CAP Sites could apply for funding to hire Youth Interns to come and work in their CAP Sites to train the public in computer and Internet use and technology.
The CAP program was terminated on March 31, 2012 as funding for the program was not renewed. Industry Canada stated that the program had reached its objective, and cited challenging fiscal times. Some provinces have maintained their program thanks to large financial contributions from the provincial government, municipalities and libraries. <ref>{{cite web|title=Community Access Program|url=http://voices-voix.ca/en/facts/profile/community-access-program|website=Voices-Voix|accessdate=7 July 2016}}</ref> <ref>{{cite web|title=Ottawa cuts CAP public web access funding.|url=httphttps://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/nova-scotia/ottawa-cuts-cap-public-web-access-funding-1.1152248|website=CBC News|publisher=CBC|accessdate=7 July 2016}}</ref> The CAP YI (Youth Initiative) program continues to receive funding. <ref>{{cite web|title=What happened to the Community Access Program (CAP)?|url=httphttps://www.ic.gc.ca/eic/site/cap-pac.nsf/eng/00023.html|website=Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada|publisher=Government of Canada|accessdate=7 July 2016}}</ref>
[[Image:Cap_logo.png|thumb|right|alt=CAP Logo|<{{center>|Industry Canada Logo</center>}}]]
==CAP YI==
The Community Access Program (CAP) Youth Initiative (YI) iswas coordinated by Industry Canada's Community Access Program and is funded through the Youth Employment Strategy (YES) of Canada which is-- overseen by Human Resources and Social Development Canada (HRSDC). CAP's youth initiative aimsaimed to provide employment opportunities for young Canadians between the ages of 15 and 30 - primarily students, recent graduates, or the under-employed or unemployed.
CAP YI participates help individuals, community organizations and small businesses improve their knowledge and effective use of the Internet and related information technologies through computer training. CAP YI is:
*To support the sustainability and long term viability of CAP Sites by providing work experience for young Canadians in CAP Sites across Canada;
*To increase the use of information and communications technology (ICT) across Canada to promote economic and social development at the community level; and
*To allow young people to gain valuable skills related to ICT thereby positioning them for longer-term employment
==Locations==
Industry Canada's Community Access Program (CAP) givesgave thousands of Canadians affordable access to the Internet. CAP sites arewere located in public locations such as schools, community centers, and libraries. They may provideprovided access in locations that are geographically remote (e.g. on parts of [[Cape Breton Island]]<ref>{{cite web|url=httphttps://www.nscap.ca/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=43&Itemid=63|title=CAP sites on Cape Breton Island|accessdate=2008-05-27}} {{Dead link|date=November 2010|bot=H3llBot}}</ref>) or serveserved populations subject to the [[digital divide]].<ref>{{cite web|url=httphttps://westlincoln.tripod.com/|title=West Lincoln Public Library|accessdate=2008-05-27}}</ref> Sites arewere established and maintained by community networks, generally in partnership with [[Municipality|Municipal]] and [[Provinces and territories of Canada|Provincial]] Governments. There arewere CAP sites located in all of the provinces and territories of Canada.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://cap.ic.gc.ca/pub/index.html?iin.lang=en |title=Community Access Program - Home Page |accessdate=2008-05-27 |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20080503184607/http://cap.ic.gc.ca/pub/index.html?iin.lang=en |archivedate=2008-05-03 |deadurl=yes |dfurl-status=dead }}</ref>
===Ontario C@P===
In Ontario the CAP program is divided into 9 networks that are usually grouped by ___location. The Ontario Library Association has maintained the same names and networks to make things simpler. The number of CAP sites in each network varies.
[[File:JamestownCAPsite.jpg|thumb|right|A CAP site in [[St. James Town]], [[Toronto]]]]
===Nova Scotia C@P===
The Nova Scotia Community Access Program continued after the loss of federal funding in 2012, and continues to operate as @NS.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.communitytechns.ca/about |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200413164255/https://www.communitytechns.ca/about |url-status=dead |archive-date=2020-04-13 |title=About @NS |accessdate=2020-04-13}}</ref>
The Nova Scotia Community Access Program (commonly known as Nova Scotia C@P, or just C@P) is based out of [[Halifax Regional Municipality|Halifax]], [[Nova Scotia]]. Nearly 400 urban and rural public locations such as schools, libraries and community centres are set up to provide computer access, support, and training. The majority of them also act as free wireless [[Hotspot (Wi-Fi)|hotspots]]. The CAP attempts to accommodate a variety of community users, from making available [[assistive technology]] such as large-size monitors to providing a [[Francophone]] network.<ref>{{cite web|last=Weeren|first=Marie|title=Community Access Program|url=http://www.novascotialife.com/chartermembers/community-access-program|publisher=Nova Scotia Life|accessdate=December 9, 2012}}</ref>
On December 4, 2012, Nova Scotia's CAP was certified as an [[At-Large]] Structure by [[ICANN]], the Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers, and will be a part of the North American Regional At-Large Organization (NARALO).<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.atlarge.icann.org/announcements/announcement-2-04dec12-en.htm|title=ICANN Mailing List, Message 172|publisher=ICANN|accessdate=December 9, 2012}}</ref>
*[[CAP Society of Cape Breton County]]
==CAP Networks==
These may be Library Boards, School Boards, Boards of Trade, Economic Development Boards, Municipalities, Community Free Nets, Human Resources and Social Development Canada (HRSDC), Industry Canada and other federal and provincial departments and agencies. By combining strengths, assets and resources from all their partners and participants, Community Resource Networks can address local and regional issues and concerns that they must deal with in Canada's new [[knowledge economy|knowledge-based economy]].
A CAP Network can have geographic basis, for example, defined by the borders of a county, city, school board jurisdiction, tourist or economic development region or a combination of these. Or it can be defined by a shared interest or purpose.
==References==
==External links==
* [httphttps://www.ic.gc.ca/eic/site/cap-pac.nsf/eng/home Official CAP Website]
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20110604212041/http://capstats.ocl.net/cgi-bin/home_page.cgi Ontario CAP Website]
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20100312230906/http://www.nfcap.nf.ca/news/index.html Newfoundland CAP Website]
* [httphttps://www.nscap.ca/ Nova Scotia CAP Website]
* [httphttps://www.peicaps.org Prince Edward Island CAP Website]
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20101021075155/http://www.granite.mb.ca/erdc/eastman/cap.html Manitoba CAP Website]
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20100325210554/http://www.capyi.com/sk/ Saskatchewan CAP Website]
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20100831080424/http://www.thealbertalibrary.ab.ca/services/cap.html Alberta CAP Website]
* [https://archive.istoday/20130115145913/http://members.shaw.ca/capbc/ British Columbia CAP Website]
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20110929035806/http://www.theyukon.ca/cdps/cditem.cfm?nid=884 Yukon CAP Website]
* [httphttps://www.angelfire.com/hi4/holmancap/ North West Territories CAP Website]
* [https://archive.today/20130101080216/http://www.nu.e-association.ca/ Nunavut CAP Website]{{dead link|date=November 2016 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}
[[Category:Internet in Canada]]
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