Households in rural and First Nations communities to benefit from the funding to increase access to high-speed Internet
Today, the Honourable Patty Hajdu, Minister of Indigenous Services and Minister responsible for the Federal Economic Development Agency for Northern Ontario, on behalf of the Honourable Gudie Hutchings, Minister of Rural Economic Development, along with Marcus Powlowski, Member of Parliament for Thunder Bay-Rainy River, highlighted more than $163 million in combined federal and provincial funding for seven projects to bring high-speed Internet access to 7,772 households in rural Ontario, as well as in First Nations communities.
Funding details for these previously announced projects are as follows:
- $46,637,325 for Keewaytinook Okimakanak to improve access for 182 households in the communities of Fort Severn and Peawanuck (Weenusk)
- $12,806,675 for Keewaytinook Okimakanak to improve access for 3,060 households in the communities of Angling Lake, Bearskin Lake, Cat Lake, Deer Lake, Dufresne (Wapekeka), Kasabonika (Kasabonika Lake), Keeyaywin, Kingfisher Lake (Kingfisher), Kitchenuhmaykoosib (Kitchenuhmaykoosib Inninuwug), Mishkeegogamang, Muskrat Dam (Muskrat Dam Lake), North Spririt Lake, Ojibway Nation of Saugeen, Osnaburgh House, Poplar Hill, Sachigo Lake, Sandy Lake, Slate Falls (Slate Falls Nation), Wawakapewin, Weagamow Lake (North Caribou Lake), and Wunnummin Lake (Wunnumin).
- $62,665,952 for Matawa First Nations Management to improve access for 689 households in the communities of Aroland, Calstock (Constance Lake), Ginoogaming First Nation, Long Lake #58 First Nation, with a component of this project also targeting the community of Wunnumin Lake First Nation
Additionally, we are pleased to announce funding for the following projects, with more details to come:
- $2,035,881 to improve access for an estimated 258 households in the communities of Armstrong and Whitesand First Nation
- $35,730,000 to improve access for an estimated 2,565 households in the communities of Conmee, Gillies, Neebing, O'Connor, Oliver Paipoonge, Shuniah and Thunder Bay
- $2,448,446 to improve access for an estimated 327 households in the communities of Frenchmen's Head, Kejick Bay and Lac Seul First Nation
- $1,318,561 to improve access for an estimated 691 households in the community of Ignace
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.
