Households in rural and First Nations communities to benefit from the funding to increase access to high‑speed Internet
April 22, 2022 - Ottawa, Ontario
Today, the Honourable Gudie Hutchings, Minister of Rural Economic Development, together with the Honourable Helena Jaczek, Minister responsible for the Federal Economic Development Agency for Southern Ontario, highlighted more than $63 million in combined federal and provincial funding for 11 projects to bring high-speed Internet access to 13,748 households in rural Ontario, as well as in First Nations communities.
Funding details for these previously announced projects are as follows:
$793,578 for Huron Telecommunications Co-operative Limited to improve access for 115 households in the communities of Blyth, Lucknow, St. Helens and Wingham
$557,025for Huron Telecommunications Co-operative Limited to improve access for 109households in the communities of Belgrave andBluevale
$596,813 for Huron Telecommunications Co-operative Limited to improve access for 135 households in the community of St. Helens
$517,826 for Huron Telecommunications Co-operative Limited to improve access for 111 households in the community of Auburn
$2,027,878 for Huron Telecommunications Co-operative Limited to improve access for 427 households in the communities of Benmiller, Bogies Beach and Nile
$10,625,666 for Tuckersmith Communications Co-operative Ltd. to improve access for 1,191 households in the communities of Belgrave, Bluevale, Blyth, Brussels, Clinton, Ethel, Henfryn, Kinburn, Londesborough, Seaforth and Walton
$3,286,383 for Cogeco Connexion Inc. to improve access for 948 households in the communities of Clear Lake,Kearney and Novar
$4,758,237 for Cogeco Connexion Inc. to improve access for 696 households in the communities of Gordon Bay,Humphrey and Port Cockburn
$9,603,742 for Cogeco Connexion Inc. to improve access for 1,697 households in the communities of Broadbent, Dunchurch, Fairholme, Hurdville, Maple Island,McKellar and Waubamik
$352,850 for Vianet Inc. to improve access for 117 households in the community of Carling.
$30,400,000 for Bell Canada Inc. to improve access for 8,202 households in the communities of Barkway, Baysville, Bracebridge, Chippewas of Rama First Nation, Glen Echo, Glen Orchard, Golden Beach, Gravenhurst, Houseys Rapids, Kahshe Lake, Lake Dalrymple, Lakewood, Longford, Matthiasville, Milford Bay, Mortimers Point, Muskoka Beach, Muskoka Falls, Port Stanton, Scarlet Park, Severn Bridge, Southwood, Stoneleigh, Swift Rapids, Torrance, Walkers Point, Washago and Whitesidef
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.
