News Release

Launch of Federal CAP Sites in Legions Gives Veterans and Seniors On-line Access to Health Information

Winnipeg – Veterans Affairs Canada (VAC), Industry Canada and the Royal Canadian Legion (RCL) are partnering to launch an innovative project that teaches veterans and seniors how to use the Internet to access health information and resources within their community and elsewhere.

This spring, as part of the first phase of the initiative, VAC, in partnership with Industry Canada and the RCL, is establishing Community Access Program (CAP) sites at 44 Legion branches in seven provinces. CAP is a federal initiative, administered by Industry Canada, that provides Canadians with public access to the Internet and the skills they need to use it. As a CAP site, Legion branches will become "on-ramps" to the Information Highway for veterans and other seniors in the community. Once the CAP sites are established, VAC will partner with the Legion and community organizations to deliver health information at selected sites.

"Seniors are one of the fastest growing user groups on the Internet and this project offers veterans and other seniors a convenient, community-based, electronic window into a world of knowledge that can enhance their well-being, independence and quality of life," said the Honourable Ron J. Duhamel, Minister of Veterans Affairs.

"The Community Access Program gives residents in all parts of Canada access to the Internet in places like the Royal Canadian Legion to help narrow the digital divide for Canadians who would not otherwise have access to the Internet," said the Honourable Brian Tobin, Minister of Industry. "These new sites provide Canadian veterans and seniors online opportunities to learn, develop skills and access government services."

The program builds on the success of a pilot initiative spearheaded by VAC and the RCL in Nova Scotia and Prince Edward Island in 1999. As part of the pilot, approximately 120 veterans, caregivers and seniors were given eight weeks of hands-on instruction on how to use the computer to browse the Internet for health and wellness information. Each week, local community health professionals also were on hand to discuss topics such as caregiving, falls prevention and mental wellness. The sessions were held in six Legion branches using surplus computer equipment donated by VAC. VAC also provided funding and training for the project.

"The CAP program under way in eastern Canada has received encouraging reviews by members in those locations and we are looking forward to participation here in Winnipeg," said J.E. Clifford Tessier, Provincial Command CAP Co-ordinator. "I invite every veteran, senior and member of the Legion to take advantage of this program and take that first step to let us introduce you to the computer. You will be amazed at how quickly you will be able to send e-mails, locate health information, old age benefits information and anything else you have ever wondered about."

This initiative advances a Government of Canada commitment to make Canada the most connected country in the world. As part of this promise, the federal government is working hard to provide Canadians with on-line information about federal programs and services and seamless, one-stop, shopping service delivery by the end of 2004.

For more information on programs and services available to veterans, please visit Veterans Affairs Canada's Internet site or Seniors Canada Online at www.seniors.gc.ca. For more information about CAP, please visit Industry Canada's web site at cap.ic.gc.ca.

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