Julianna
When businesses, organizations, and individuals choose a .CA domain, they’re often thinking about trust, local identity, and their connection to Canada.
What many don’t realize is that choosing .CA also supports Canadian communities and a stronger Canadian internet ecosystem.
Unlike other domain extensions, .CA is operated by the Canadian Internet Registration Authority (CIRA), a Canadian not-for-profit organization that reinvests a portion of .CA revenues into initiatives that strengthen Canada’s internet. Through the Net Good program, CIRA helps fund projects that improve digital access, online safety, and internet infrastructure in communities across the country.
Opting to register and use a .CA domain doesn’t just help you establish a Canadian identifying online presence. It helps support a stronger, more accessible internet for Canadians.
The Only Domain That Gives Back to Canada
Every domain extension serves as an address on the internet, but .CA and its registry operator CIRA does something unique. For every .CA registration, a portion of the registration fees helps fund CIRA’s Net Good program, which provides financial support to community-led initiatives that use technology to create positive social impact. Because of this, choosing a .CA is more than a branding decision. It’s a small but significant way to support digital inclusion, connectivity, education, and innovation across Canada.
For organizations that also care to align business decisions with community impact, it’s one more reason .CA stands apart, in addition to its favorability among Canadians.
Investing in Canada’s Digital Future
Since launching in 2014, CIRA’s Net Good program has invested more than $15.45 million into 260 projects across Canada. Each year, more than $1 million is directed toward projects that help strengthen Canada’s internet and the communities that depend on it. These are your registration fees making an impact across Canada.
Funded initiatives have supported a wide variety of projects benefitting Canadians across the country, including:
- Improved internet access in underserved and rural communities
- Digital literacy and skills development programs
- Online safety and cybersecurity education
- Technology solutions addressing local community challenges
- Programs that help close gaps in digital access and participation
These projects demonstrate how technology can create meaningful outcomes when local organizations are equipped with the resources they need to make a difference.
To learn more about the funded projects and their impacts, you can read their case studies and stories on CIRA’s website.
Turning Domain Registrations into Community Impact
We think most Canadians would agree that the Internet has become essential infrastructure for business, education, communication, and public services.
While Internet access is not explicitly listed as a fundamental right or freedom under the Canadian Charter, the Canadian government and regulatory bodies treat high-speed internet as a vital essential service. The Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission (CRTC) similarly recognizes broadband internet as a fundamental telecommunications service necessary for all Canadians to participate in modern society.
Despite this, many Canadians still face barriers to connectivity, digital literacy, and online safety.
This is why the grants provided by programs like Net Good matter for this reason. They make a tangible difference by supporting smaller community based and grassroots initiatives that are tackling issues that might not be getting the attention or resources that they deserve.
By reinvesting .CA revenues into projects that address these challenges, CIRA helps ensure that Canada’s internet continues to evolve in ways that benefit everyone, not just those who already have access to the latest technology and services.
It’s a model that’s uniquely Canadian: strengthening local communities through collective participation.
Why This Matters for Canadian Businesses
There are many beneficial reasons for Canadian businesses to choose .CA – reasons we’ve written about in many articles over the years as strong advocates for Canada’s ccTLD with a direct connection to its founding. The impact of the Net Good program, however, is less well known – something we hope to help correct.
By choosing .CA, you’re helping support investments in Canadian communities, digital inclusion initiatives, online safety programs, and projects working toward a better internet for everyone.
While the benefits of these projects are felt first within the communities they serve, they also contribute to a healthier digital economy overall. Improved connectivity, greater digital literacy, and increased confidence online help create an environment where Canadian businesses can more effectively reach customers, find talent, and participate in an increasingly connected marketplace. It’s a reminder that investments in Canada’s internet infrastructure and digital communities create value far beyond the organizations receiving funding.
Learn More
To learn more about CIRA’s Net Good program and the projects it’s helping fund across Canada, visit: https://www.cira.ca/en/grants/
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