Government of Canada invests to bring high-speed Internet to 362 homes in rural Ontario
News release
Residents of Millgrove, Pleasant View Survey, Dundas, Copetown and Ancaster to benefit from increased connectivity
April 15, 2021 – Ottawa, Ontario
The COVID-19 pandemic has highlighted how much we rely on our connections. Now more than ever, Canadians across the country need access to reliable high-speed Internet as many of us are working, learning, and staying in touch with friends and family from home. Right now, too many Canadians living in rural and remote communities lack access to high-speed Internet. Through the Universal Broadband Fund (UBF) Rapid Response Stream, the Government of Canada is taking immediate action to get Canadians connected to the high-speed Internet they need.
Today, the Honourable Filomena Tassi, Minister of Labour and Member of Parliament for Hamilton West–Ancaster–Dundas, on behalf of the Honourable Maryam Monsef, Minister for Women and Gender Equality and Rural Economic Development, announced over $352,000 in federal funding to bring high-speed Internet to rural residents of Ontario, with an additional investment of $626,000 from Bell Canada. This project will connect 362 underserved households in the communities of Millgrove, Pleasant View Survey, Dundas, Copetown and Ancaster.
The project being announced today was approved within six months of the November 2020 formal launch of the $1.75-billion Universal Broadband Fund. Projects funded under the UBF, as well as through other public and private investments, will help connect 98% of Canadians to high-speed Internet by 2026 and achieve the national target of 100% connectivity by 2030.
Today’s announcement builds on the progress the Government of Canada has already made to improve critical infrastructure in Ontario. Since 2015, the federal government has invested more than $2.85 billion in over 4,060 infrastructure projects in Ontario communities with a population of fewer than 100,000 people. These investments mean 481 km of new or upgraded roads that are making our communities safer; more than 938 projects to provide residents with cleaner, more sustainable sources of drinking water; and more than 5,427 additional housing units built in rural communities, helping ensure all Ontarians have a safe place to call home.
Quotes
“Today’s important high-speed Internet investment of over $352,000 is fantastic news for the communities of Millgrove, Pleasant View Survey, Copetown, Dundas and Ancaster. Easier access to high-speed Internet means better connectivity for work, school and business. This is what the Rapid Response Stream of the Universal Broadband Fund is all about: helping ready-to-go projects receive faster approval so construction can start and more communities can be connected to high-speed Internet and the world.”
– The Honourable Filomena Tassi, Minister of Labour and Member of Parliament for Hamilton West–Ancaster–Dundas
“Access to high-speed broadband networks will be a driver of Canada’s recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic and of future social and economic prosperity, and Bell has committed to further accelerating our industry-leading capital investment plan over the next two years to connect even more communities across the country. We’re proud to invest $626,000 and to partner with the Government of Canada in providing residents of Ancaster, Copetown, Dundas, Millgrove and Pleasant View Survey with access to the fastest fibre home Internet speeds available.”
– Bruce Furlong, Senior Vice-President, Access Engineering and Deployment, Bell Canada
Quick facts
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Canada’s Connectivity Strategy aims to provide all Canadians with access to Internet speeds of at least 50 megabits per second (Mbps) download / 10 Mbps upload.
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The Universal Broadband Fund (UBF) is a $1.75-billion investment designed to help connect all Canadians to high-speed Internet. Applications to the UBF were accepted until March 15, 2021, and are now being evaluated.
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The UBF is part of a suite of federal investments to improve high-speed Internet. The suite includes the Connect to Innovate program, which is expected to connect nearly 400,000 households by 2023, and the recently announced $2-billion broadband initiative from the Canada Infrastructure Bank.
Associated links
Contacts
Marie-Pier Baril
Press Secretary
Office of the Minister for Women and Gender Equality and Rural Economic Development
613-295-8123
Marie-Pier.Baril@cfc-swc.gc.ca
Media Relations
Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada
343-291-1777
ic.mediarelations-mediasrelations.ic@canada.ca
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