FEDERAL AND PROVINCIAL SUPPORT ANNOUNCED FOR INTERNET ACCESS

Released on November 23, 1998

Ralph Goodale, Minister of Natural Resources and M.P. for Wascana, on

behalf of John Manley, Minister of Industry, with Saskatchewan

Education Minister Clay Serby, announced funding to spread

connectedness to 54 communities via Community Access Program (CAP)

sites.



The CAP sites, which facilitate public Internet access, are the result

of a federal-provincial agreement between Industry Canada and

Saskatchewan Education, as well as broad-based support within the

communities.



"Initiatives such as this one help the government reach its goal of

making Canada the most connected nation in the world by the year

2000," noted Mr. Goodale. "By connecting our communities to the

Internet, we are helping our children gain the skills which can help

them do their homework today and then successfully compete for jobs

tomorrow."



"Internet access is an important part of Saskatchewan's Multimedia

Learning Strategy," said Mr. Serby. "By connecting Internet users to

learning resources, we improve learning opportunities for people in

all parts of the province."



Through CAP, the federal government aims to help establish up to

10,000 access sites in remote, rural and urban settings by the

end of the fiscal year 2000. This program is a key component of

the Canadian Strategy for the Information Highway, which helps

create jobs, growth and other benefits associated with the

development of information technology.



CAP is also integral to the federal Youth Employment Strategy and

the Saskatchewan Multimedia Learning Strategy, as well as

furthering the goals of the Saskatchewan Training Strategy. CAP

sites invest in people by providing job opportunities and skills

development for young Canadians aged 15-30.



Last year, 1,000 young Canadians took advantage of work

experience opportunities provided by CAP. Through CAP, the

Government of Canada and the Government of Saskatchewan are

helping rural Canadians take advantage of emerging opportunities

in the global, Knowledge-Based Economy.



- 30 -



A complete list of Canada-Saskatchewan Community Access Program

projects and sites is attached.



For more information, please contact:



Brenda Simons

Canada-Saskatchewan Community

Access Program

Main Floor, 122 3rd Avenue N

c/o Canada-Saskatchewan

Business Centre

Saskatoon, SK

S7K 2H6

Phone: (306)933-7029

Community Access Program

1-800-268-6608

comaccess@ic.gc.ca





COMMUNITIES CONNECTING TO THE INFORMATION HIGHWAY/

COLLECTIVITS BRANCHES L'INFOROUTE





Air Ronge Carragana Sandy Bay

Beauval Chelan Stony Rapids

Brabant Lake Clemenceau St. George's Hill

Buffalo Narrows Greenwater Lake Timber Bay

Camsell Portage Mistatim Turner Lake

Cole Bay Prairie River Uranium City

Cumberland House Somme Weyakwin

Descharme Lake Porcupine Plain Buena Vista

Dore Lake Weekes Disley

Garson Lake Aberdeen Regina Beach

Green Lake Blucher Balgonie

Jans Bay Dundurn Edenwold

Kinoosao Elstow Kroneau

La Loche Hanley White City

Michel Village Arm River Colony Pinehouse

Bethune Herbert Maryfield

Mayfair Cabri Pennant

Success Stewart Valley Wymark