It's one of the major challenges facing our sector in terms of how we ensure service supports in rural areas, especially as we're wanting immigrants to go where there are good jobs. The conversation has been around the use of technology for distance learning. Then we run into whether or not there are enough things such as bandwidth, and where people will be able to access computers.
The role of public institutions in rural communities becomes even more important in terms of the kinds of support roles they can play in partnering with community service agencies outside of the rural areas so that they're able to at least create the space and the technology whereby the immigrant working there can have access to services from someone in a larger city.
It's still at the early stages. We're not sure how much it will cost. Cost continues to be an issue. Citizenship and Immigration Canada is certainly looking at this, as are the provinces. Ontario is certainly looking at it as we look at how we can populate our northern region, especially given the great hopes we have for our Ring of Fire and wanting to bring immigrants there, but recognizing the need for service supports in those areas.
At OCASI we believe that technology really is the way to go. We have to be looking at the kinds of investments that are required, as well the kinds of partnerships we need to develop with public institutions that are located in those areas already.