In the News: Canada's Auditor General reports 'no plan' to connect the digital divide

Though many perceive the ability to be online as a basic necessity, several rural communities across Canada still find themselves without access to high-speed connection. Many of these disconnected areas are Indigenous communities that already experience a disproportionate lack of vital resources, such as the absence of clean water or all-weather roads in the Shoal Lake 40 First Nation [1]. For some, the need for online access has led to the student development of their own community internet infrastructure. For others, in order to stay connected and access online resources, it means traveling to the nearest urban space. Although a Digital Tattoo guest blogger recently examined the attempts made to bridge the digital divide in British Columbia, a report from the Office of the Auditor General was released at the end of November detailing the lack of current measures or future plans to connect Canada’s rural and remote areas.

In this report, which functioned as a performance audit, the following assessments were made:

Innovation, Science, and Economic Development Canada did not have a plan to bring high-quality Internet services to Canadians in remote and rural areas
The Connect to Innovate Program has not ensured the maximum benefits from public money have been spent
Small internet services providers struggled to acquire high-quality spectrum in rural and remote areas

This is significant, as Prime Minister Justin Trudeau visited Shoal Lake 40 First Nation just two years ago, pledging to close their digital divide, though no measurable actions have since been taken. As the Auditor General’s report notes, “access to reliable and high-quality Internet services enables Canadians to participate in the 21st-century economy and have better access to health care and education” [2], and provides Canadians with access to critical information and services that may not be otherwise available to them.

Six recommendations were provided within the report, including guidance for funding programs, and the need to notify stakeholders of the date and location of planned availability [2]. The Innovation, Science, and Economic Department Canada – which is the Federal Institution responsible for carrying out these actions – have agreed to implement the recommendations.