Canada is investing nearly $1 million to bring high-speed Internet to 4,557 more homes in the Durham region.
Right now, too many Canadians living in rural and remote communities lack access to high-speed Internet. Through the Universal Broadband Fund’s (UBF) Rapid Response Stream, the Government of Canada is taking immediate action to get Canadians connected to the high-speed Internet they need.
Ryan Turnbull, Member of Parliament for Whitby, on behalf of the Maryam Monsef, Minister for Women and Gender Equality and Rural Economic Development, announced $999,200 in federal funding to bring high-speed Internet to 4,557 underserved households in the communities of Orono, Hampton, Blackstock, Enniskillen, Columbus, Solina, Manchester, Burketon Station, Pontypool, Raglan, Ashburn, Myrtle Station, Kendal and Nestleton Station, North Oshawa and Macedonian Village.
Ruralwave powered by Rogers is investing an additional $542,000 and Bell Canada is investing an additional $210,000.
The projects were approved within six months of the November 2020 formal launch of the now $2.75 billion UBF. Projects funded under the UBF, as well as through other public and private investments, will help connect 98% of Canadians to high-speed Internet by 2026 and achieve the national target of 100% connectivity by 2030.
Since 2015, the federal government has invested over $2.85 billion in over 4,060 infrastructure projects in Ontario communities with a population of fewer than 100,000 people. These investments mean 481 km of new or upgraded roads that are making our communities safer; more than 938 projects to provide residents with cleaner, more sustainable sources of drinking water; and more than 5,427 additional housing units built in rural communities, helping ensure all Ontarians have a safe place to call home.
“The Covid-19 pandemic has proven that reliable, high-speed internet access is a necessity, not a luxury. This significant Federal Government investment through the Rapid Response Stream of the Universal Broadband Fund will bring Internet access to more than 4500 households across rural areas in Durham, including in Brooklin, Myrtle, Ashburn, Myrtle Station, and the Macedonian Village in Whitby. This high-speed internet access announcement means more families in our communities will be better supported to work, study, and access other essential services from home,” said Ryan Turnbull, Member of Parliament for Whitby.
Quick Facts:
- 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 designed to help connect all Canadians to high-speed Internet. Applications to the UBF were accepted until March 15, 2021 and are now being evaluated.
- The UBF is part of a suite of federal investments to improve high-speed Internet. The suite includes the Connect to Innovate program, which is expected to connect nearly 400,000 households by 2023, and the recently announced $2-billion broadband initiative from the Canada Infrastructure Bank.