Media.Knet.Ca

The Conservative government is denying reports it was cutting funding to community institutions that provide free internet access to Canadians who don't have affordable access at home or at work.

"They'll still have the funding and it's business as usual for those institutions ... that have had funding in the past," Industry Minister Tony Clement told reporters Tuesday on Parliament Hill.

Organizations that benefit from Industry Canada's 16-year-old Community Access Program — including schools, youth drop-in centres and seniors groups — began receiving letters last week telling them that sites within 25 kilometres of a public library would no longer be eligible for CAP cash.

But Clement said his ministry will get in touch with those organizations to assure them they will receive funding, if not from CAP — which has been trimmed to $2 million from $15 million in 2009 — then from a new strategy launched in 2009-2010 to expand broadband connection in rural areas that will eventually replace CAP.

“We don’t want to get anyone left in the lurch by having the funding cut this year while the broadband strategy to households is still rolling out,” Clement said.

Groups had been receiving $4,000 to $5,000 a year to: buy computers and other hardware, such as printers and wireless routers; pay for technical support and skills training; and sometimes to pay for the connection bills.

Clement did not say what amount those groups will receive in 2010.

Provinces hit hard

Previous reports of possible funding cuts had hit centres in provinces like Prince Edward Island, Nova Scotia and Saskatchewan hard.

"To give someone ... who lives in a large city [a sense of] how small rural communities are is quite difficult because most of them have had no interaction in rural communities and how devastating this kind of a cut can be to them," said Elizabeth Wilson, co-ordinator of the Afton Computer Club and the Cornwall CAP site on P.E.I.

Opposition MPs, meanwhile, are accusing the government of flip-flopping on the issue.

During Tuesday's question period in the Commons, NDP MP Niki Ashton said the Conservatives changed their minds based on the "rage" of those in rural communities who understand that the community access program is crucial.

"Can the minister confirm that the full funding will be maintained?" Ashton asked.

Clement insisted money for the program was always in the budget. "Our position has not changed," he told the House.

The internet support program was started in 1994 to expand web access across Canada. At the time, few Canadians were using the internet.

The new broadband program will provide funding to build infrastructure and implement networks in what the Conservative government estimates is the seven per cent of geographic Canada that is without broadband access.