Government of Canada announces investment of up to $53.9 million to expand and improve Internet services
July 30, 2015 – Québec, Quebec – Industry Canada
Everyday tasks that were once done in person, such as shopping, communicating, learning and banking, are now done online. To help Canadian communities, businesses and families have better access to these and many other online opportunities, the Honourable Denis Lebel, Minister of Infrastructure, Communities and Intergovernmental Affairs and Minister of the Economic Development Agency of Canada for the Regions of Quebec, on behalf of the Honourable James Moore, Minister of Industry, together with Pierre Arcand, Quebec Minister of Energy and Natural Resources, Minister responsible for the Plan Nord and Minister responsible for the Côte-Nord region, today announced that the Government of Canada will provide 13 companies and organizations with up to $53.9 million to connect more than 65,000 homes throughout Quebec to faster Internet services.
The Ministers highlighted the fact that more than 65,000 households across the province will benefit from today's announcement. These broadband infrastructure projects are expected to be completed by the end of 2017, with some completed as soon as the end of 2015, delivering Internet download speeds of up to 15 megabits per second (Mbps), three times as fast as the national target speed of 5 Mbps.
The projects include up to $15 million to extend and enhance satellite Internet service for approximately 3,300 households in the Nunavik region of northern Quebec. Canadians in this region depend on satellite services for their high-speed Internet connections, and projects under the northern component of the Connecting Canadians program have a target speed of 3 Mbps. The investment under Connecting Canadians will ensure high-speed Internet remains available in these regions after leases for these services expire in 2016, while also greatly improving Internet speed for area residents.
For all Canadians, the Internet is a tool that spurs economic growth, broadens opportunities, and connects friends and family from coast to coast to coast. For Canadians who live in communities with slow or no Internet, access to high-speed services will lead to new economic opportunities and the creation of new jobs, products and services.
By Canada's 150th birthday in 2017, over 98 percent of Canadian households will be able to subscribe to new or improved high-speed Internet services, which helps deliver on the Government's commitment to rural Canadians.
Jake Enwright
Press Secretary
Office of the Minister of Industry
343-291-2500
Media Relations
Industry Canada
343-291-1777
media-relations@ic.gc.ca