Over 6,500 households in rural and First Nation 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, together with the Honourable Kinga Surma, Ontario's Minister of Infrastructure, announced more than $56 million in combined new federal and provincial funding for six projects to bring high-speed Internet access to over 6,500 households in rural northern and southwestern Ontario, as well as in First Nation communities.
These new projects build on an existing relationship 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.
Today, the governments of Canada and Ontario also announced additional details, including Internet service providers, for 28 projects that were announced in July 2021, under this agreement, which will provide more than $398 million in joint funding to bring high-speed Internet access to more than 50,000 households in regions across Ontario.
Today's announcements build on the Government of Canada's progress toward ensuring that 98 percent of Canadians have access to high-speed Internet by 2026, and 100 percent by 2030. The announcements also bring the Government of Ontario one step closer to achieving its goal of bringing reliable high-speed Internet access to every region of the province by the end of 2025. 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.
