Today, the Honourable Gudie Hutchings, Minister of Rural Economic Development, together with Patrick Weiler, Member of Parliament for West Vancouver-Sunshine Coast-Sea to Sky Country, announced nearly $1.9 million in combined federal and provincial funding for two projects by CityWest to bring high-speed Internet access to 663 households on Keats Island and in New Brighton, British Columbia. These two projects are part of the larger federal-provincial funding commitment announced in May 2022.
The governments of Canada and British Columbia have partnered to support high-speed Internet projects that will connect all remaining rural households in the province. This historic agreement, announced on March 8, 2022, is being made possible by a joint federal-provincial investment totalling up to $830 million. The governments of Canada and British Columbia are now announcing details of projects selected under that agreement.
Today's announcement builds on 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. Both the governments of Canada and British Columbia recognize the important role that access to high-speed Internet will have in the economic recovery from the pandemic. Their collaboration to provide better Internet services to residents of rural, remote and Indigenous communities in British Columbia will help create jobs and contribute to the economic growth of the entire province.
