Canada and Ontario governments pledge $56 million for broadband rollout

The governments of Canada and Ontario are jointly investing $56 million for six projects that will enhance internet connectivity in northern and southwestern parts of the province. The funding announcement, made Tuesday, also included additional details for internet service providers for 28 projects announced last July. The largest funded project, of the six revealed on Tuesday, is in the Thunder Bay region. It is drawing $35.7 million and will connect 2,565 homes and businesses to the internet. The smallest amount is going to the township of Ignace, which is receiving $1.32 million and will connect 691 homes and businesses. “The part of the world I live and play in, people can obviously access high-speed internet in some parts of northern Ontario, in other parts of northern Ontario not at all,” Patty Hajdu, Minister of the Federal Economic Development Agency for Northern Ontario said at a news conference. “It’s a real challenge, a challenge from an economic perspective with small businesses trying to get their goods and services to market.” “A lack of high-speed internet is detrimental not only for economic reasons but also for people’s overall health and well being.” Ontario Minister of Infrastructure Kinga Surma stated at the same conference. “In today’s day and age, this is unacceptable.” The governments announced a series of projects last summer and Tuesday revealed the internet service providers who will roll out broadband in their regions. They are BCE Inc.’s Bell Canada, Cogeco Connexion Inc., Digital Infrastructure Group Inc., Execulink Telecom Inc., Huron Telecommunications Co-operative Ltd., Keewaytinook Okimakanak, Mornington Communications Cooperative Ltd., Quadro Communications Co-operative Inc., Rohl Global Network Inc., Tuckersmith Communications Cooperative Ltd., and Vianet Inc. Rohl will receive the most money of the latter projects, at $62.6 million while Vianet garners only $352,850. Ontario is one of several provinces that have been expanding its rollout of broadband lately. Last year Rogers Communications Inc. announced a rollout of wireless service in the Eastern Ontario Regional Network. Bell and Rogers revealed internet rollout in rural areas last July. Earlier this month the federal government announced it was offering subsidized internet service to low-income Canadians and seniors. The provincial government recently passed a bill through the legislature that would see increased broadband rollout across Ontario. The Canadian government wants to have 98 per cent of citizens connected by 2026 and all Canadians online by 2030. The Ontario government hopes to have universal connectivity by 2025.

Canada and Ontario governments pledge $56 million for broadband rollout

Brief | April 19, 2022

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Canada and Ontario governments pledge $56 million for broadband rollout

Brief | April 19, 2022

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