Governments of Canada and Ontario invest over $71 million to bring high-speed internet access to more than 22,000 homes and businesses in 74 communities across eastern Ontario
Rural communities to benefit from increased connectivity to high-speed internet
June 21, 2023
BROCKVILLE — All Canadians need reliable and affordable high-speed Internet, no matter where they live. The governments of Canada and Ontario are taking action to bring high-speed internet access to unserved and underserved communities across the province.
Last week, the Honourable Gudie Hutchings, Minister of Rural Economic Development, together with the Honourable Kinga Surma, Ontario’s Minister of Infrastructure, and Goldie Ghamari, Member of Provincial Parliament for Carleton, announced over $71 million in combined federal and provincial funding for Bell Canada and Cogeco to bring high-speed internet access to more than 22,000 homes in 74 communities across eastern Ontario.
“This is great news for residents across Leeds and Grenville,” said Steve Clark, MPP for Leeds-Grenville-Thousand Islands and Rideau Lakes. “Our government is committed to ensuring that all Ontarians have access to fast, reliable Internet when they need it, and we understand the need for investment in rural areas. We will continue to ensure that we all have the technology and tools needed to succeed in the modern world.”
The projects being announced last week are part of an existing partnership between Ontario and Canada. On July 29, 2021, the two levels of government announced their partnership to support large-scale, fibre-based projects that will provide high-speed internet access to more than 280,000 households and businesses across the province. This historic agreement was made possible by a joint federal-provincial investment totaling more than $1.2 billion.
Last week’s announcement brings Ontario closer to achieving its goal of making high-speed internet accessible in every community across the province by the end of 2025.
Quick Facts
- 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.
- The Ontario government is investing nearly $4 billion to bring access to reliable high-speed internet to every community across the province by the end of 2025. This is the largest single investment in high-speed internet in any province, by any government in Canadian history.
- As of May 2023, Ontario has finalized agreements of more than $2.3 billion for nearly 200 high-speed internet and cellular projects across the province.
- Ontario launched a new interactive online map that shows where provincially funded high-speed internet projects are planned, currently underway, or have been recently completed in communities across the province. Ontarians can visit Ontario.ca/highspeedinternet and search by address, community or municipality to find out more about provincially funded high-speed internet projects and where high-speed internet service is currently available.
Additional Resources
The following communities in our area are included:
- Algonquin
- Athens
- Blanchards Hill
- Brockville
- Charleston
- Delta
- Domville
- Eastons Corners
- Johnstown
- Lyn
- Maitland
- Mallorytown
- Maynard
- North Augusta
- Portland
- Prescott
- Spencerville
- Spring Valley
- Tincap
- Toledo
- Cardinal
- Domville
- Eastons Corners
- Johnstown
- Kemptville
- Merrickville
- North Augusta
- Oxford Mills
- Oxford Station
- Spencerville
- Ventnor
- Gananoque
- Ivy Lea
- Lyndhurst
- Morton
- Seeleys Bay
- Willowbank
- Blanchards Hill
- Eastons Corners
- Jasper
- Lombardy
- Merrickville
- Newboro
- Portland
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Contact:
Office of MPP Steve Clark
Erin Merkley
613-342-9522
steve.clark@pc.ola.org