A version of this piece originally appeared in The Hamilton Spectator on May 2, 2022. 

It’s shocking. Two years into a pandemic that forced nearly everything online, most rural and First Nations households still don’t have access to the “basic” internet speed target set by the government.  Where there is decent connectivity, many lack the skills they need to thrive online. 

CIRA is a proud leader in the digital funding space through our annual Community Investment Program  Grants – but even in 2022, millions of Canadians still lack the needed skills, resources and connectivity required to participate in our increasingly digital society. 

A new report from CIRA suggests that while Canadian philanthropy is feeling urgency to help tackle the  country’s digital inequities, the majority have yet to step up with funding and leader