Today, the Honourable Gudie Hutchings, Minister of Rural Economic Development, and Ken McDonald, Member of Parliament for Avalon, together with the Honourable Sarah Stoodley, Minister of Digital Government and Service NL, announced up to $94 million in federal and provincial funding for Bell and Xplore to bring high-speed Internet access to over 36,000 homes in over 350 rural, remote and Indigenous communities across the province.
This funding is part of an existing agreement between the governments of Canada and Newfoundland and Labrador. In February 2022, the two levels of government announced a historic partnership to invest up to $136 million to connect all remaining rural, remote and Indigenous homes throughout the province to high-speed Internet.
Today's announcement provides details on two of the projects selected under that agreement and builds upon the Government of Canada's progress toward making sure that 98% of Canadians have access to high-speed Internet by 2026, and 100% by 2030. The Government of Canada will continue to make investments in infrastructure to build strong communities and a more competitive and resilient Canada for everyone.
