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| Backgrounder(s) & FactSheet(s): | Backgrounder |
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| Backgrounder(s) & FactSheet(s): | Backgrounder |
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VICTORIA – Increased electronic access to education, health and commerce will result from four technology agreements that help bridge the digital divide in several heartlands communities, Management Services Minister Sandy Santori announced today during open cabinet.
The province is supporting upgraded high-speed Internet technology with School District 20 (Kootenay-Columbia), the Nisga'a Lisims Government, the City of Kamloops and the Village of Tahsis. Access to the Internet will be greatly enhanced, and high-quality, interactive video conferencing capabilities will be available in all locations but Tahsis. The projects involve government, community organizations and, in some cases, service providers working together to deliver affordable, current communications technology.
“Residents in these communities will travel faster along the information highway than ever before,” said Santori. “These projects illustrate how we’re delivering on our New Era commitment to bridge the digital divide and work to extend high-speed, broadband Internet access to every community in B.C.
“B.C. is acting on the Premier’s Technology Council recommendations to encourage community-based networks to enter the marketplace, to go the last mile in extending affordable access to British Columbians where they live and work. In each project, government’s use of these services was the incentive for local enterprises to link communities with the technology they needed.”
The projects expand learning options for students, create training and jobs for aboriginal people, increase trade potential and support health care when distance separates patients and health-care providers. With a click of the mouse, the new technology allows students, entrepreneurs, health professionals and residents to share information over any distance, saving time and reducing costs.
“This unique partnership makes greater connectivity possible for Nisga’a government, health and education institutions, and creates video conferencing capabilities for our communities and valuable employment and training opportunities for our citizens,” said Nisga’a Lisims Government President Joseph Gosnell.
“This technology provides us with an expanded capacity to respond to the learning needs of our students and communities, enhances student choice, opens the door to new ways of doing things and creates opportunities for using shared services,” said outgoing School District 20 superintendent Everette Surgenor.
Further work to bridge the digital divide includes planning underway by the Ministry of Management Services and the Ministry of Education to upgrade school Internet access. The ministries are identifying schools and determining priorities to ensure students and educators in the heartlands can access current technology and state-of-the-art electronic learning tools.
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