Federal government increases connectivity in Quebec and Ontario

The federal government announced two projects on Friday that will increase connectivity for rural residents in Quebec and Ontario. In the morning, Innovation Minister François-Philippe Champagne unveiled $404,936 in funding so BCE Inc. can improve mobile connectivity to the Atikamekw First Nation community of Wemotaci. “It is crucial that all Canadians, including members of First Nations, have access to stable and secure mobile connectivity,” the minister said in a news release. “Today’s announcement further demonstrates our commitment to connecting all Canadians across the country.” “More than ever, Quebec communities need access to advanced telecommunications services,” Karine Moses, Quebec vice chair of Bell said in the same statement. “Mobile network access is a key component of the province’s economic prosperity. We are proud to partner with the government of Canada and to participate in the development of the Atikamekw community of Wemotaci by implementing a reliable and fast mobile network.” Moses is also senior vice president of content development and news for parent company BCE. She herself has been in the news lately for her role in the dismissal of former CTV anchor Lisa LaFlamme. Since 2015, the federal government has spent more than $731 million improving connectivity throughout the province. Friday afternoon the governments of Canada and Ontario announced that each had invested $1.68 million in broadband infrastructure in Elgin County in the western portion of the province. This will provide high-speed internet service to more than 1,100 homes, farms and businesses in the region. “The start of construction of new fibre technology and additional network infrastructure in Elgin County will be welcome news for households and businesses in the area,” Peter Fragiskatos, the Liberal MP for London North Centre, said in a news release. “It also gets us one step closer to connecting all Canadians to high-speed internet by 2030.” Fragiskatos was the federal government representative at Friday’s announcement. His provincial counterpart Rob Flack, MPP for Elgin-Middlesex-London, stood in for the provincial government. “I know firsthand how important high-speed internet access is for farm families and businesses across Elgin County and rural Ontario,” said Flack. “Our community will greatly benefit with the expansion of this high-speed internet project. I’m proud that our government is getting it done and building the critical infrastructure needed to build Ontario and support our residents here in Elgin County.” Each government is spending $616,000 for the rollout of infrastructure connecting 740 homes, farms and businesses in five communities by September. They are also investing $1.07 million each to connect 390 consumers in four communities by December. The federal government’s aim is to have 98 per cent of Canadians connected by 2026 and all of Canada linked up by 2030. Ontario’s goal is to be fully connected by 2025. The Ontario project follows on the heels of a similar announcement a week earlier, outlining broadband rollout in Dufferin County, also in western Ontario. –Reporting by Paul Park at ppark@thewirereport.ca and editing by Michael Lee-Murphy at mleemurphy@thewirereport.ca

Federal government increases connectivity in Quebec and Ontario

News | August 26, 2022

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Federal government increases connectivity in Quebec and Ontario

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