Programmes intended for disadvantaged families

Orientation of proposal

Taking from the example of what is done by certain social integration companies with household goods (cf. the "Envie" network in France) and computers (cf. Actif DPS in the Paris region), computers can be recycled and sold at low prices thereby permitting their purchase by low wage earners. This activity could also generate jobs and the setting up of intermediate training points for persons in the process of reintegration.

Furthermore, it is advisable to set up programmes and pursue existing ones to provide free or subsidised Internet access and connectivity programmes for the poorest families and ensure that they are always accompanied with free training courses.

These "Connect the families" type programmes in Quebec and its equivalents in other Canadian provinces and American states should be made permanent and provide for the necessary renewal of hardware and technological progress (high speed, broad band).

Context

Although priority must be given to increasing the number of access points, encouraging purchases should not be neglected in order to reach those who do not frequent public places. This individual access must be accompanied by elementary training in computer and Internet use. The purchase should also include freeware capable of answering usual needs (office management, writing and multimedia expression).

This incentive to purchase could take two forms :
-  payment of part of financing costs by the public authorities as is done in Quebec (financial aid for the purchase or hire of a computer as well as an Internet connection) ;
-  encouragement by the public authorities of initiatives from the social economy permitting the recycling of computers at low cost.

The first solution appears to have borne fruit. In Quebec, 100,000 families have been connected to the Internet in less than a year. However, this raises several questions : the programme leaves by the wayside the poorest who do not have the means to pay the difference ; as for the beneficiaries, how will they pay for their subscription when the programme ends in March 2001 ? More generally, in a country where poverty grows daily, how can the expense of C$120 million be justified for these connections when elementary needs are not satisfied ?

The second solution, which relies on the social economy rather than on specific but temporary programmes, has the advantage of longevity and job creation as a side effect. Still in Quebec, thought has been given to recycling computers by young apprentices, though these computers are intended for the province’s schools free of charge.

Posté le 4 octobre 2002

©© Vecam, article sous licence creative common