Indigenous legal advocates in northwestern Ontario are raising alarms after the Ontario government terminated its $100-million contract with Starlink, impacting access to legal services in remote First Nations. The cancellation compromises the Starlink-Navigator Program run by the Nishnawbe-Aski Legal Services Corporation, which enabled community members to attend virtual court sessions, particularly crucial for those lacking reliable internet access. The program previously facilitated participation in courts for up to 80 individuals per session across various locations, exacerbating challenges in accessing justice within the Nishnawbe Aski Nation territory.
"Going forward, NAN community members will need to independently find the means and technology to attend court via Zoom," NALSC said in a statement last Tuesday.
Starlink, developed by Musk's company SpaceX, is a low-orbit satellite constellation system known for improving broadband internet access in rural and remote communities.
Collection
[
|
...
]