Thanks to a total investment of $44.57 million, made as part of Canada–Quebec Operation High Speed, 4,250 households in the Saguenay–Lac-Saint-Jean region will have access to Vidéotron high-speed Internet services by September 2022.

“Whether it’s for doing business in the regions, taking online courses or engaging in leisure activities, access to high-speed Internet is crucial in 2021. The pandemic and telework have revealed significant connectivity shortcomings in the four corners of Quebec. I’m very proud of the collaboration between the federal government and the Quebec government that will help ensure every Quebecer, including here in the Saguenay–Lac-Saint-Jean region, has access to high-speed Internet by the fall of 2022.”
- The Honourable Pablo Rodriguez, Leader of the Government in the House of Commons, Quebec Lieutenant and Member of Parliament for Honoré-Mercier

“I’m very happy about this important announcement for our beautiful Saguenay–Lac-Saint-Jean region. These investments once again show our government’s resolve in delivering on its commitments, and we will soon be able to declare mission accomplished thanks to them. Quebecers should be able to benefit from having access to high-speed Internet service, especially with Internet being their primary work tool this past year.”
- Andrée Laforest, Minister of Municipal Affairs and Housing, Minister Responsible for the Saguenay–Lac-Saint-Jean Region and Member of the National Assembly for Chicoutimi

“Today’s announcement is very important for the beautiful Saguenay–Lac-Saint-Jean region. Thanks to the collaboration between our government and Vidéotron, 4,250 households will have access to Vidéotron’s reliable, effective high-speed Internet services by September 2022. Large-scale deployment has begun. We are living up to our commitment. We will become leaders in connectivity.”
- Gilles Bélanger, Parliamentary Assistant to the Premier of Quebec (high-speed Internet) and Member of the National Assembly for Orford

“Today’s Vidéotron announcement rounds out the plan for optimal coverage and better Internet connectivity for all families in the greater Dubuc area—a very important and long-awaited step forward. By committing to extend its network, Vidéotron will enable nearly 1,900 additional homes in the municipalities of Saguenay, Bégin, Saint-Ambroise, Saint-Charles-de-Bourget, Saint-Fulgence, Sainte-Rose-du-Nord, Saint-David-de-Falardeau, Petit-Saguenay and Ferland-et-Boilleau to benefit from better quality high-speed Internet service. Our government has made sure that all homes in Dubuc will be covered by a high-speed Internet service provider by September 2022, and I’m proud of that. We are delivering on our commitments.”
- François Tremblay, Member of the National Assembly for Dubuc

“I’m very proud of this announcement for the people in my riding and in the Saguenay-Lac-Saint-Jean region. It again underscores our government’s remarkable determination in honouring its commitments to Quebecers. This announcement also demonstrates our openness to forging lasting partnerships, like the one with Vidéotron. As a result, 4,250 further households will soon have connections to efficient, affordable services.”
- Nancy Guillemette, Member of the National Assembly for Roberval

“Quebecor and Vidéotron have had a unique relationship with the Saguenay–Lac-Saint-Jean region for many years. That’s why we’re proud to have been chosen to connect these households in the region to high-speed Internet. By September 2022, 4,250 further households here will be able to benefit from the best in telecommunications, the best service and the best prices.”
- Pierre Karl Péladeau, President and CEO of Quebecor

• Canada–Quebec Operation High Speed will ensure connectivity for 150,000 households, notably through unprecedented agreements with six of the biggest telecommunications companies. This is made possible by an equal investment of $826.3 million from the governments of Canada and Quebec.

• The Government of Canada has allocated billions of dollars to Internet infrastructure in rural and remote regions, including $2.75 billion as part of the Universal Broadband Fund, of which $1 billion comes from Budget 2021.

• On March 9, 2021, the Government of Quebec announced that it was increasing its budget to more than $1 billion to accelerate the connection of thousands of Quebec households to high-speed Internet.

Marie-Pier Baril
Press Secretary
Office of the Minister for Women and Gender Equality and Rural Economic Development
marie-pier.baril@cfc-swc.gc.ca

613-295-8123
Media Relations
Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada
343-291-1777
mediarelations-mediasrelations@ised-isde.gc.ca

Alexandra Roy
Political Attaché
Office of the Premier
alexandra.roy@mce.gouv.qc.ca
819-212-0459

Anne-Hélène Couturier
Public Relations Advisor
Ministère du Conseil exécutif du Québec
medias@mce-sct.gouv.qc.ca

Merick Séguin
Advisor, Public Relations and Corporate Affairs
Vidéotron
merick.seguin@vidéotron.com
438-889-3220

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Annex: Canada–Quebec Operation High Speed—List of municipalities targeted by Vidéotron’s project in the Saguenay–Lac-Saint-Jean region

Lac-Saint-Jean-Est RCM:

• Alma
• Hébertville
• Labrecque
• L'Ascension-de-Notre-Seigneur
• Métabetchouan–Lac-à-la-Croix
• Saint-Bruno
• Sainte-Monique
• Saint-Henri-de-Taillon
• Saint-Nazaire

Domaine-du-Roy RCM:

• Chambord
• Lac-Bouchette
• Saint-André-du-Lac-Saint-Jean
• Saint-François-de-Sales

Fjord-du-Saguenay RCM:

• Bégin
• Ferland-et-Boilleau
• Larouche
• Petit-Saguenay
• Saguenay
• Saint-Ambroise
• Saint-Charles-de-Bourget
• Saint-David-de-Falardeau
• Sainte-Rose-du-Nord
• Saint-Fulgence

Maria-Chapdelaine RCM:

• Albanel
• Dolbeau-Mistassini
• Girardville
• Normandin
• Notre-Dame-de-Lorette
• Péribonka
• Rivière-Mistassini
• Saint-Augustin
• Sainte-Jeanne-d'Arc
• Saint-Eugène-d'Argentenay
• Saint-Stanislas
• Saint-Thomas-Didyme