Over the past 13 years, the government of Canada created a series of programs in the application of Information and Communication Technology (ICT) to promote access to technology. CFS is part of an integrated strategy to help communities achieve this goal. This integrated strategy, which includes public, private and society involvement, has been critical to furthering Canada’s national vision for digital inclusion and innovation.

CFS is one of Industry Canada’s most successful programs. Since 1993, the placement of over 775,000 refurbished computers donated by Canadian Governments and corporations has seeded the introduction of eLearning. Today, CFS supplies 25 per cent of all existing computers in public schools. In 1999, Canada became the first country in the world to connect every school and library to the Internet, including all schools in aboriginal communities.