You’re reading this right now on a mobile device, tablet or computer that is connected to the internet.
You are experiencing “Digital Inclusion”: the state of having connectivity, a device, and the basic skills to use them confidently and safely. That’s how most of us live now, with a device or two always within reach, on wi-fi at home and a data plan when we’re out, and it has transformed our lives.
The ways in which we have come to need the Internet have exploded: banking and shopping; connecting with family and friends; doing homework and applying for jobs; booking a ticket, a hotel room, or medical appointment; getting emergency alerts and more – all faster, easier, and in some cases only possibly thanks to Digital Inclusion.
In fact, the Nature Journal called Digital Inclusion the “Super-Social Determinant of Health” because of how critical it is to access all the other social determinants of health such as housing, food, employment, and healthcare. The world has become “digital by default” and we are expected to be connected. Those who aren’t digitally included are being left behind, and that is a problem for everyone.
Luckily, Nova Scotia has emerged from the pandemic as a leader when it comes to Digital Inclusion!
For decades, every discussion about access to the Internet in Nova Scotia, and pretty much across Canada, has been in terms of rural and remote areas and a lack of service, home Internet access or mobile, so let’s start there.
In the past few years, Nova Scotia’s government and tech-sector have worked together to close the Internet service-delivery gap as fast as anyone could reasonably ask. According to Build Nova Scotia, the vast majority of homes that didn’t have broadband when the Internet for Nova Scotia initiative began are now serviceable. To date we have approximately 99% coverage with more work being completed every month. We also know our mobile service coverage has been spotty at best outside of larger urban areas but thankfully, recent announcements by the government mark the beginning of the end of serviceless communities and dropped calls on major highways.
Nova Scotia is also surging to the head of the pack when it comes to investments in our digital future, especially in areas where technology promises to unlock incredible opportunities to improve our quality of life. We’re now one of only a few provinces that has a provincial department dedicated to Digital Solutions, and look no further than the recent partnership announced with Google Cloud to see how we are ahead of the curve.
As health care consultant Mary Jane Hampton said following the news, “This partnership with Google is, I think, a very good development for healthcare in Nova Scotia. There’s no question that the Premier read the tea leaves right, seeing the advantage of AI and all it has to offer for healthcare delivery.”
However, as important as they are, complete service coverage and cutting-edge technology are only part of the story. We can (and should) spend the hundreds of millions of dollars needed to ensure service can reach everyone and we are benefitting from advancements in technology, but for people who can’t afford service or a proper device, or can’t use them with confidence and safety, those investments are meaningless.
Technology really is a cornerstone of our future and ensuring everyone has access to it is essential. That’s why Nova Scotia is also leading the way in this area, innovating with partners in the private sector and community sector to find new ways to ensure everyone can participate in the digital world. In fact, GEO Nova Scotia exists for that very reason.
GEO Nova Scotia started as a small community project in 2020, moved on to regional pilots in 2021, and began to fully develop into a province-wide non profit organization in 2022 thanks to support from the Department of Community Services. Since then we’ve directly impacted over 10,000 Nova Scotians through a network of over 100 service partners.
Together with our partners we’ve provided more than 2,000 internet connections and 400 mobile plans to low-income households, and distributed over 4,000 devices such as Chromebook, laptops, iPads, and smartphones to people who could not otherwise afford them. We’ve also trained over 200 people to be “Digital Champions”, growing our province’s capacity to build our digital skills.
We were also thrilled to be hosting Nova Scotia’s first conference on Digital Inclusion, GEO FORUM 2024, on October 9. This one-day virtual event brought together people from government, industry, and community to talk about how we are closing the digital divide, together. That evening was the first Nova Scotia Digital Inclusion Awards ceremony, recognizing the critical work being done to close the digital divide in Nova Scotia and highlighting inspiring examples of leadership, innovation, and dedication in making digital inclusion a reality for all.
Access to technology empowers individuals, families, and communities. It fuels growth, both socially and economically, and I’m grateful to live in a province where everyone is working together, so everyone can benefit from it.
Matt Spurway is the founder and Executive Director of GEO Nova Scotia (Getting Everyone Online)