Governments of Canada and Ontario invest $1,064,493 in Leeds-Grenville-Thousand Islands and Rideau Lakes to bring high-speed internet access to more households

Brockville — Today, Steve Clark, MPP for Leeds—Grenville—Thousand Islands and Rideau Lakes, was joined by MP Michael Barrett and Mayor Doug Malanka of Township of Augusta, to announce the Governments of Ontario and Canada are investing $1,064,493 in joint funding for a project to bring high-speed Internet access to 394 households in Maynard and Domville in the Township of Augusta.

This project builds upon a collaborative partnership between the provincial and federal governments. Both governments announced on July 29, 2021, 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.

“I’m proud that our government is working with the federal government to invest over $1 million to bring high-speed internet access to nearly 400 homes and businesses in Maynard and Domville,” said MPP Clark.

“The Ontario government is ensuring every community across the province has access to reliable high-speed Internet by the end of 2025. By working together with our federal partners and Internet service providers, we are increasing access to high-speed Internet and building a stronger foundation for Ontario’s economic growth and prosperity” said the Honourable Kinga Surma, Ontario’s Minister of Infrastructure. “We are ensuring that the agriculture sector and all families, workers and businesses have a better and brighter future. No one will be left behind.”

“Rural residents need access to reliable highspeed internet. This is a top priority, and I am proud to be advocating on behalf of our community to receive critical federal funding for the infrastructure needed to improve the delivery of an essential service like highspeed internet. Today’s announcement is an important and tangible step forward on getting high speed internet to residents in Domville and Maynard and I will keep working together with local partners to secure essential services and support for households and businesses across our community,” said MP Michael Barrett.

This announcement builds on the Government of Canada’s progress toward ensuring that 98 per cent of Canadians have access to high-speed Internet by 2026, and 100 per cent by 2030. The announcement also brings 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.

Quick facts

  • Funding breakdown is $527,886 in provincial funding and $536,607 in federal funding.
  • Canada’s Connectivity Strategy aims to provide all Canadians with access to Internet speeds of at least 50 megabits per second (Mbps) download / 10 Mbps upload.
  • The Universal Broadband Fund (UBF) is a $2.75 billion investment by the Government of Canada designed to help connect 98 per cent of Canadians to high-speed Internet by 2026 and achieve the national target of 100 per cent connectivity by 2030. Only the hardest-to-reach households may take until 2030 to connect.
  • On July 29, 2021, a Canada-Ontario broadband partnership was announced. This agreement will bring high-speed internet access to more than 280,000 households across Ontario with a total investment of more than $1.2 billion, co-funded equally by both levels of government.
  • In 2021, Ontario announced projects in regions across the province, including six projects that will serve Northern Ontario and 17 projects led exclusively by the province under the Improving Connectivity for Ontario program.
  • Another part of Ontario’s plan to achieve 100 per cent access to connectivity for all regions across the province is a new competitive process led by Infrastructure Ontario to help connect more homes and businesses in unserved and underserved communities.
  • Eastern Ontario Regional Network to help improve cellular service in Eastern Ontario.
  • The Government of Ontario is investing more than $63 million in the Southwestern Integrated Fibre Technology project to help bring high-speed Internet access to more than 58,000 homes, farms and businesses across Southwestern Ontario. The province has also invested in high-speed Internet projects to support connectivity in rural and Northern Ontario, including through the Northern Ontario Heritage Fund Corporation and through the Next Generation Network Program.

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