Only 54% of households who make less than $30,000 (Statscan) have access to the internet at home compared with 97% of households in the top income quartile of $87,000. This “digital divide” excludes low-income individuals and families from what the United Nations now considers to be a human right, comparable with freedom of speech. The issue is not just internet access but digital literacy, the skills and know-how that come with exposure to the web, which are increasingly crucial for gainful employment as well as academic success. As the Canadian school system in particular becomes more and more web-centric, inclusion of all children becomes a public policy obligation.
Join ACORN for a protest demanding that Bell Aliant create a $10/month rate for high speed internet for low income families, as well as providing subsidized computers.
The site for the Halifax local of The Media Co-op has been archived and will no longer be updated. Please visit the main Media Co-op website to learn more about the organization.