We are working with the provinces and the private sector to connect every school in Canada to the Internet by the end of 1997. We have also asked the Information Highway Advisory Council to advise us on how to ensure universal access at a reasonable cost. We have paid particular attention to helping Canada's young people get the skills and experience they need to participate in the emerging knowledge based economy. In Canada, we have a Computers for Schools program in which government departments and the private sector donate surplus computer equipment and software to classrooms and rural libraries across Canada. Since December 1993, the program has resulted in the donation of more than 16,000 computers and some 27,000 software packages to Canadian schools and libraries.
Computers are necessary but only the first step to providing access.
The Government of Canada's SchoolNet program works with the provincial governments to support their efforts to ensure that schools are connected to the Net. Thanks to the help of the private sector, we expect that all Canadian schools will be on-line by 1997. As well as helping bring together the partners who can put Canada's schools on line, SchoolNet is providing access to and facilitating the development of educational resources for learners. These resources have been developed by the various stake-holders, and are distributed across the country. The Web site receives about 1.5 million hits a month.