'Isolated and alone': The struggle of living without home internet

A community organization that works to help low-income families is increasingly frustrated with getting internet access for all Nova Scotians.

Members of ACORN(Association of Community Organizations for Reform Now)Canada say they're disappointed in the 2017 federal budget unveiled last month, because the $13.2 million over five years cited to support access to broadband relies on big companies to voluntarily create programs.

• CRTC declares broadband internet access a basic service

"ACORN members want their right to the digital economy to be guaranteed, not left to the whims of multi-billion dollar companies," ACORN's Tabitha Naismith said in a statement.

TheCRTC declared broadband internet a basic telecommunications service last year, and ordered the country's internet providers to beginworking on boosting internet services and speeds inisolated areas. The United Nations declared earlier this decade that internetfreedom and internet accessare basic human rights.

Relying on the library

But noneof these declarations matters much if people can't afford to get on the internet, said Jonethan Brigley, Dartmouth chair for ACORN.

Brigley said people on social assistance don't have the internet in their budget. And with internetbills starting at around $85 a month, there's little people can do unless they decide to cut into their food budget.

• What good is declaring broadband a 'basic service' without regulating retail prices?

Without internet access, they can't perform necessary work like checking emails, looking for jobs and going to government websites, he said.

"They feel isolated and alone and they don't know where to actually go besides the libraries, and if they can't afford a bus pass they can't go there as well," he said.

Gisle Bouvier, also of ACORN, said the internet should not be subject to market forces alone and shouldbe capped for low-income people.

The CRTCdoes not regulate internet prices, however, and passed the file onto Innovation, Science and Economic DevelopmentMinister Navdeep Bains.