Computer and internet access is important for everyone, a Waterloo election forum was told.

Digital inclusion discussed at Waterloo election forum

WATERLOO — In a world where education and employment are tied to Internet and technology, those without access are getting left behind.

Digital inclusion is about providing computer and Internet access to those who do not have the resources or skills.

"If we are going to rely on technology, let's make sure it is available," said Trudy Beaulne, executive director of the Social Planning Council of Kitchener-Waterloo.

The council served up a second round of casual discussion in two days, this time in Waterloo instead of Kitchener, to talk about social issues important to the community. Digital inclusion was one of them.

Candidates mingled with community members and discussed a variety of issues from poverty to the environment and building strong neighbourhoods.

A group of several candidates and members of the community chatted about the lack of public computer access outside Waterloo's libraries.

Community centres should have these facilities too, said Kitchener resident Janet Mayhew. She couldn't attend the social planning forum in Kitchener on Tuesday night so decided to drop by Waterloo's forum at First United Church on William Street.

"Some individuals just don't have access to computers at home," she added.

Government services are increasingly using online forms, making it difficult for those without skills or resources to keep up to date.

Beaulne said there is no standard in Canada for community public Internet access. As more services transfer to the web, people who can't keep up get left behind.

She suggested sponsored training sessions in how to use digital devices and the Internet.

Another participant suggested a volunteer program that could rent space in community centres for training sessions.

The digitally excluded community is diverse — from young families to new immigrants and individuals on social assistance.

"It's a digital divide," Mayhew said.

Ideas were brewing away at every topic table at the First United Church on William Street in Uptown Waterloo.

The turnout was smaller than the Kitchener forum from Tuesday night because fewer candidates could attend, Beaulne said.

There were about 60 people, including 28 candidates running for election on Oct. 27.

"It is interesting where there are issues in common," she said of the differences between the two forums. "But they are also very different at the same time."

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One difference is that Waterloo has fewer community centres and does not have resources like the Working Centre in downtown Kitchener that offer free, public digital access.

There were lively discussions at every table, ranging from the need for online voting to boost civic engagement, to encouraging community gardens as a venue for building stronger neighbourhoods.

Mayhew said that it is unfortunate that community discussions like this forum only happen when there is an election around the corner. She would like to see more community discussions about social planning issues.

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