Government of Canada highlights more than $96 million in funding to bring high-speed Internet access to 22,546 households in Ontario

From: Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada

News release

April 22, 2022 – Ottawa, Ontario

Households in rural and First Nations communities to benefit from the funding to increase access to high-speed Internet

Today, Mark Gerretsen, Member of Parliament for Kingston and the Islands and Parliamentary Secretary to the Leader of the Government in the House of Commons (Senate), on behalf of the Honourable Gudie Hutchings, Minister of Rural Economic Development, highlighted more than $96 million in combined federal and provincial funding for five projects to bring high-speed Internet access to 22,546 households in rural and First Nations communities in Ontario.

Funding details for these previously announced projects are as follows:

  • $45,037,804 for Corporation of the County of Northumberland to improve access for 13,448 households in the communities of Alderville (Alderville First Nation), Bailieboro, Batawa, Bewdley, Brighton, Camborne, Campbellford, Castleton, Cobourg, Colborne, Cold Springs, Creighton Heights, East Colborne, Elizabethville, Fenella, Garden Hill, Gores Landing, Gosport, Grafton, Harwood, Hastings, Havelock, Hilton, Kendal, Lakeport, Lovett, Millbrook, Newtonville, Norham, Port Hope, Precious Corners, Roseneath, Smithfield, Spring Brook, Spring Valley, Stirling, Thomstown, Vernonville and Warkworth
  • $1,064,493 for Cogeco Connexion Inc. to improve access for 394 households in the communities of Maynard and Domville
  • $5,175,706 for Cogeco Connexion Inc. to improve access for 747 households in the communities of Calabogie, Braeside, Glasgow Station and Burnstown
  • $23,200,000 for Bell Canada to improve access for 4,102 households in the communities of Actinolite, Arden, Cloyne, Corbyville, Denbigh, Flinton, Halloway, Harlowe, Ivanhoe, Kaladar, Madoc, Marlbank, Northbrook, Plainfield, Plevna, Queensborough, Read, Tamworth, Thomasburg, Tweed and Zion Hill
  • $22,300,000 for Bell Canada to improve access for 3,855 households in the communities of Augsburg, Barry’s Bay, Combermere, Donegal, Eganville, Hopefield, Perrault, Purdy and Wilno

This funding is thanks to a collaboration between Ontario and Canada. On July 29, 2021, the governments announced their partnership to support large-scale, fibre-based projects that will provide high-speed Internet access to more than 280,000 rural and remote households across the province. This historic agreement was made possible by a joint federal-provincial investment totalling more than $1.2 billion.

This investment builds on the Government of Canada’s progress toward ensuring that 98% of Canadians have access to high-speed Internet by 2026, and 100% by 2030. As we work to rebuild from the COVID-19 pandemic and grow the economy, the federal and provincial governments will continue to make investments in infrastructure to build strong communities and a more competitive and resilient Ontario and Canada for everyone.

Through its broadband initiative, the Canada Infrastructure Bank is collaborating with the Government of Canada and the Province of Ontario to improve the commercial viability of projects.

Quotes

“We need to close the connection gap and ensure that every nook and cranny of Ontario has access to reliable high-speed Internet—whether that’s in Oil Springs or Carlsbad Springs or all the way on the shores of Lake Superior. This investment of more than $96 million in funding to connect 22,546 rural households in the province is a milestone for Ontarians. Investments like these help create jobs, improve access to health care and online learning services, and keep us connected to our loved ones. The Government of Canada will continue to make investments like these to help achieve our national target of connecting 98% of Canadians by 2026 and 100% by 2030.”
– The Honourable Gudie Hutchings, Minister of Rural Economic Development

“The pandemic has shifted much of our lives online and transformed how we live, work, learn and do business. But, more importantly, rural communities in Ontario are without access to high-speed Internet and are getting left behind. Because of our government’s investments today, more Canadians will have access to high-speed Internet.”
– Mark Gerretsen, Member of Parliament for Kingston and the Islands and Parliamentary Secretary to the Leader of the Government in the House of Commons (Senate)

Quick facts

  • The projects highlighted today are part of a larger announcement made on April 19, 2022, by the governments of Canada and Ontario about joint funding for projects to bring high-speed Internet access to many communities in regions across Ontario.

  • 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.

  • The Universal Broadband Fund is a $2.75 billion investment by the Government of Canada designed to help connect 98% of Canadians to high-speed Internet by 2026 and achieve the national target of 100% connectivity by 2030. Only the hardest-to-reach households may take until 2030 to get connected.

  • On July 29, 2021, a Canada-Ontario broadband partnership was announced. This agreement will bring high-speed Internet access to more than 280,000 households across Ontario through a total investment of more than $1.2 billion, co-funded equally by both levels of government. 

Associated links

Contacts

Luka Vujic
Press Secretary
Office of the Minister of Rural Economic Development
343-571-9582
luka.vujic@ised-isde.gc.ca

Media Relations
Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada
media@ised-isde.gc.ca

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