Many Toronto families lack high-speed internet, not because it isn't available, but because it is too expensive. What does that do to students? Matt Galloway spoke with Ashley Morris is a single parent of two living in East York, and with Anuja Bharti. She is a high school teacher and head of Student Success at North Park Secondary School in Brampton.

The Harper government recently unveiled its plan to invest millions of dollars over the next three years to expand Internet access.

Comparing the plan to the creation of the national railway and the opening of the Northwest Passage, the government proclaimed that, "access to the Internet is essential to create jobs, realize economic opportunities, and link Canadians to online services as well as far-off family members and friends."

Toronto ACORN is looking to close the gap in the digital divide this week by hosting an Internet Café outside Bell Canada’s Toronto office.

As a part of its ACORN Canada’s National Day of Action to end the digital divide in Canada, Toronto ACORN will set up an Internet Café at Trinity Square at the end of James Street North of Queen at 11 a.m. Thursday, Aug. 21.

A lot of time, study, and money has been spent making sure lower-income kids receive a good education.

But a new barrier threatens to divide the haves from the have-nots at school — and later on in their careers.

It’s a lack of access to home computers and affordable, fast connections to the Internet. In 2012, almost 98 per cent of the top income households were connected to the Internet, compared to only 58 per cent of those earning less than $30,000.

Check out Operation Maple's new video Disconnected: The Sacrifices We Make for This Human Right - ACORN members Natalie Hundt, Marva Burnett and Kelly Lalonde talk about why we need affordable and reliable high-speed internet in our homes, and how ACORN Canada members are fighting to make that happen.