Table of contents
Building a trusted internet for Canadians
Trust is a fundamental aspect of the internet. At CIRA, we do much more than manage the .CA domain registry. We invest our time, resources and expertise into helping build trust on the internet.
So, how do you build trust? By working every day to make the internet safe, resilient, accessible, and equitable.
Leadership in action
At the height of the COVID-19 pandemic, CIRA was invited to appear before the House of Commons’ Standing Committee on Industry, Science and Technology (INDU) to discuss online fraud.
We were proud to help the committee members better understand how CIRA helps protect Canadians from COVID-19 related fraud, including our actions to protect the .CA domain registry and the launch of CIRA Canadian Shield.
CIRA is often called upon to advise governments on internet-related issues, and we are proud to offer our counsel when called upon.
Read about CIRA’s appearance at the committee
.CA is a gold standard, our government uses it, and I use it for my website.
Member of parliament, Windsor West
Protecting Canadians online
CIRA has taken a leadership role in protecting Canadians online by launching a free online security and privacy tool—CIRA Canadian Shield.
In partnership with the Canadian Centre for Cyber Security, CIRA launched Canadian Shield to provide individual Canadians and their families with the same level of protection typically reserved for corporations.
We are proud to leverage our knowledge, infrastructure and resources to provide this free layer of online protection for Canadians.
“CIRA has shown tremendous leadership in giving Canadians an option to better protect themselves online, and I would like to think them for their partnership.”
Head, Canadian Centre for Cyber Security
Promoting access for all
CIRA has long advocated for better internet access for all Canadian, and through our Internet Performance Test we have helped dozens of communities across Canada benchmark their local connectivity.
CIRA submitted a report to the CRTC as part of its consultation on rural broadband barriers, which found that rural download speeds were nearly 12 times slower than those enjoyed by urban Canadians.
CIRA is working collaboratively with the CRTC to help inform their plans for closing the rural-urban internet divide.
Read more about the rural-urban internet divide
Investing in our community
As a non-profit with a mandate to build a trusted internet for Canadians, CIRA gives back to the Internet community every year through our Community Investment Program.
Since it’s inception, the Community Investment Program has granted nearly $8 million to more than 150 internet-related projects across Canada. These projects are focused on areas such as internet infrastructure, digital literacy, and cybersecurity.
Supporting Canada in a crisis
A central focus for CIRA has always been working with Canada’s critical institutions and small businesses.
As thousands of doctors and nurses worked to protect us; millions of students learned from home; and small businesses across the country struggled to survive, CIRA launched a program to protect these critical institutions during the COVID-19 pandemic.
