Households in rural and First Nations communities to benefit from the funding to increase access to high-speed Internet
Today, Marcus Powlowski, Member of Parliament for Thunder Bay-Rainy River, on behalf of the Honourable Gudie Hutchings, Minister of Rural Economic Development, highlighted more than $51 million in combined federal and provincial funding for two projects to bring high-speed Internet access to 4,086 households in rural Ontario, as well as in First Nations communities.
Funding details for this previously announced project are as follows:
- $49,546,420 for Bell Canada to improve access for 3,852 households in the communities of Animakee Wa Zhing #37, Anishinabe of Wauzhushk Onigum, Anishinaabeg of Naongashiing, Barwick, Big Grassy (Big Grassy), Caliper Lake, Couchiching First Nation, Crow Lake (Ojibways of Onigaming First Nation), Devlin, Dinorwic, Eagle River, Emo, Fort Frances, Grassy Narrows First Nation, Iskatewizaagegan #39 Independent, Kenora, Lac La Croix, Migisi Sahgaigan (Eagle Lake), Minahico, Mine Centre, Morson, Northwest Angle #33, Northwest Angle #37, Northwest Bay (Naicatchewenin), Obashkaandagaang, Ochiichagwe'babigo'ining First Nation, Rainy River First Nations, Seine River First Nation, Shoal Lake #40, Sioux Narrows, Stratton, Upsala, Vermilion Bay, Wabaseemoong Independent Nations, Wabauskang First Nation, Wabigoon, Wabigoon Lake Ojibway Nation, Whitefish Bay (Naotkamegwanning)
Additionally, we are pleased to announce funding for the following project, with more details to come:
- $2,312,145 to improve access for 234 households in the communities of Barwick and Rainy River
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.
