Canada is investing $1.75 billion to help connect Canadians to high-speed internet across the country.
The government says the Universal Broadband Fund will connect 98 percent of Canadians across the country to high-speed internet by 2026, with the goal of connecting all Canadians by 2030.
Originally in the 2019 budget as $1 billion, today’s additional $750 million for the Universal Broadband Fund will help advance projects and connect Canadian households and businesses in underserved communities.
The funding also included $150 million in Rapid Response Stream with an accelerated application process to allow shovel-ready projects to get started right away. The application period is now open and community partners and stakeholders are encouraged to apply for funding.
With today’s announcement, the Canadian Government has made over $6 billion available for universal broadband since 2015.
“Now more than ever, Canadians need reliable access to high-speed internet as we work, learn, and communicate with our family and friends from home,” said Prime Minister Justin Trudeau.
“With today’s announcement, we are continuing to bring faster Internet access to every part of our country, helping businesses grow, creating new jobs, and building a better Canada for everyone.”
The Prime Minister also announced an agreement of $600 million with Canadian satellite company Telesat to improve connectivity and expand high-speed Internet coverage to the far north, rural, and remote regions across Canada, through low-earth-orbit satellite capacity.
Nickel Belt MP Marc G. Serré says that far too many residents of Nickel Belt lack access to reliable high-speed internet, which has had a dramatic impact on their quality of life.
“Our communities’ economic development and ability to overcome the challenges of this pandemic greatly depends on having access to quality and affordable internet and cellular
coverage for all,” said Nickel Belt MP Marc G. Serré. “Working closely with municipal governments, the private sector and stakeholders, I will continue to advocate to ensure this important funding will benefit Nickel Belt.”
Today’s announcement is the largest one-time federal investment in broadband.
