August 29, 1996
The Ontario Government launched its $20 million Telecommunications Access Partnerships (TAP) initiative today and issued a Call for Proposals to private and public sector partners to expand the information highway and develop new and better ways to use it.
``We are moving to strengthen our competitive advantage on the information highway to develop new opportunities and create jobs,'' said Ontario Minister of Economic Development, Trade and Tourism William Saunderson in Ottawa today, as he released details of the initiative.
``We especially want proposals to focus on the needs of smaller and rural communities, where residents and the business community sometimes lag behind larger urban centres in their access to the information highway,'' he said.
``We want to make sure Ontario communities and regions have access to the telecommunications infrastructure they need to forge new alliances and working partnerships, and to retain and attract business and create jobs,'' said the Minister.
``This is an investment in critical infrastructure. The information highway is revolutionizing how we work and interact,'' said the Minister. It's creating new business and job-creation opportunities all over the world and it's redefining the ways we do business and deliver public services, he said.
Announced in the Ontario Budget last May, Telecommunications Access Partnerships is also designed to enable the broader public sector to develop better and less expensive ways to deliver services and collect, use and share information.
``I am pleased to see this new provincial investment because it will help complete important linkages in Ontario's developing networks of networks,'' said Jim Coombs, Chair of the Council for an Ontario Information Infrastructure.
The Ministry invites Ontario-based groups or consortia to submit proposals that develop shared regional or community networks involving broad-based public and private sector partnerships that improve access to advanced information highway services.
Proposals that focus on the needs of smaller and rural communities, where residents and the business community sometimes lag behind larger urban centres in their access to the information highway, are invited.
The initiative will support advanced network initiatives that demonstrate the potential for significant improvements, including leading-edge network initiatives that support or link major research and development activities.
This initiative is designed to enable the broader public sector, such as health institutions, skills training groups and local governments to develop better and less expensive ways to deliver services and collect, use and share information.
Up to $2 million will be available for individual projects over two years.
The deadline for the first round of proposals is October 30. An independent panel will review the proposals and the Minister will consider their recommendations on funding later this fall.
The Call for Proposals will be circulated widely to Ministry partners and clients. It is available for downloading on the Networks Ontario website. Proposals can also be submitted online.