Policy, Governance & Community

With the persistence of the digital divide, there is a need to rethink the roles for information technology and other resources for individual and community economic and social development.

Many of the challenges and issues involving the Internet relate to social policy issues and objectives. There are roles for several federal government departments in addressing these issues. In particular, these are relevant to Human Resources Development Canada (HRDC), Heritage and Industry.

• There is a tension emerging between the capabilities of increasing the ‘personalization’ of information on the Internet and, the development of, and access to, ‘collective’ or generalized information resources.
• Issues involving the roles of, and support for, general interest public intermediaries need to be explored. General interest intermediaries offer opportunities to pursue human and social capital related policy objectives, and social and economic development (HRDC, Heritage, Treasury Board – Government Online).
• As the Internet matures, there is an increasing demand for highly valued social or public information and resources as a complement to the growth of personalized consumer products and services (HRDC, Heritage).
• Information is a primary factor integrating people into society. Diverse public and private information creates a shared culture, is important for social organization and participation by individuals at all levels (HRDC, Heritage, Treasury Board – Government Online).
• The role of government funded public access sites has changed over the past few years. In addition to addressing a continuing need for access and basic technical training, these sites are increasingly being used as supportive resources for individual and community development activities. The role of the federal government in funding some of these in the future needs to be addressed (Industry, Treasury Board).
• Many non-users or near users respond positively to going online when they believe that this will meet specific basic needs, including education/training, employment prospects and access to public information and services, etc (HRDC).

The Internet is only one of several important channels for access.

• People require a diversity of the means of access (Internet, in-person, telephone, etc.).
• Choices of different means of access to information and services are influenced by the specific needs and circumstances of each individual.