Colonial policies deny internet to many Indigenous communities – IRPP

April 14, 2022

The federal government has an opportunity to close the digital divide and take a meaningful step toward reconciliation by updating its spectrum policy.

The pandemic has highlighted antiquated policies born from colonialism that are putting remote Indigenous communities at a disadvantage and underscoring the need for high-speed internet to be made available to everyone as an essential service, like water and electricity. Many Indigenous communities in remote areas are digitally disconnected, without access to public resources available in a fully digital universe.

Canada’s Indigenous leaders from coast-to-coast-to-coast sent a letter in December 2021 to the responsible federal minister, François-Philippe Champagne, requesting policy changes to improve access to the internet.

Read More: https://policyoptions.irpp.org/magazines/april-2022/wireless-spectrum-indigenous-communities/