Closing Canada’s digital divides: what it means, why it matters and how communities are leading the way – CIRA
In 2026, it is clear digital connection isn’t a luxury, but a lifeline. Yet across Canada, people and organizations continue to face barriers that prevent them from fully participating in the digital world.
Through the Net Good Grants program, CIRA has supported rural, remote, northern and Indigenous communities as they build stronger digital futures. We also recognize that digital divides exist everywhere—large cities and small towns, across regions and demographics—shaped by differences in affordability, skills, online safety, policy influence and access to reliable infrastructure.
That’s why CIRA is continuing to invest in three core areas that shape Canada’s digital landscape: infrastructure, internet policy and online safety, while welcoming proposals from any community working to close one or more of these divides. Below are communities that have addressed these challenges, who may inspire you to see if your community has a project that could do the same.
