Ontario Rural Communities to Benefit from Increased Connectivity

Strategic Insights -

The COVID-19 pandemic has highlighted the need for reliable high-speed internet access in rural communities. The Government of Canada is addressing this issue through the Universal Broadband Fund's Rapid Response Stream, which aims to connect all Canadians to high-speed internet by 2026 and achieve 100% connectivity by 2030. Recently, the Honourable Deb Schulte announced over $192,000 in federal funding to bring high-speed internet to rural residents of Vaughan and East Gwillimbury in partnership with Bell.

Key Takeaways:

  • The Universal Broadband Fund has allocated over $192,000 to connect 113 underserved households in rural Ontario to high-speed internet.
  • The projects will be implemented in partnership with Bell and are part of a $2.75-billion investment to connect 98% of Canadians to high-speed internet by 2026.
  • The Government of Canada has already invested over $2.85 billion in infrastructure projects in Ontario communities with a population of fewer than 100,000 people since 2015.
  • These investments include 452 km of new or upgraded roads, 938 projects to provide residents with cleaner and more sustainable sources of drinking water, and 5,427 additional housing units built in rural communities.
  • Bell will receive $48,800 to connect 44 households in East Gwillimbury and $143,800 to connect 69 households in Vaughan.
  • The Government of Canada has committed over $240 million to 40 connectivity projects in Ontario, which will connect over 87,000 more households to better and faster internet.

Statistics:

  • $192,000 in federal funding allocated to the Universal Broadband Fund's Rapid Response Stream
  • 113 underserved households in rural Ontario to be connected to high-speed internet
  • $2.75-billion investment to connect 98% of Canadians to high-speed internet by 2026
  • 452 km of new or upgraded roads in Ontario communities since 2015
  • 938 projects to provide residents with cleaner and more sustainable sources of drinking water since 2015
  • 5,427 additional housing units built in rural communities since 2015
  • $48,800 allocated to connect 44 households in East Gwillimbury
  • $143,800 allocated to connect 69 households in Vaughan
  • Over $240 million committed to 40 connectivity projects in Ontario
  • 87,000 more households to be connected to better and faster internet in Ontario
  • 50 megabits per second (Mbps) download / 10 Mbps upload goal for Canada's Connectivity Strategy

Sources:

  • Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada (press release)
  • Bell Canada (press release)
  • Backgrounder: Universal Broadband Fund and Telesat low Earth orbit satellite capacity agreement
  • Connect to Innovate Program -- Project status updates
  • Canada Infrastructure Bank announcement
  • High-Speed Access for All: Canada's Connectivity Strategy