This year, the Government of Canada, through universal broadband fund (UBF) has taken action to help improve Internet service for Canadians across the country. By 2026, it aims to ensure that 98 per cent of Canadians have access to high-speed internet.
Here’s a roundup of the top government announcements over the year.
January
At the end of January, had over C$6.9 million in funding announced For five projects that will bring high-speed internet to more than 3,455 homes in rural Ontario.
Also, at C$763,000 financing Hurst, Ontario was also announced to bring high-speed internet to 373 homes.
february
government in February announced Over $41 million in funding for 21 projects designed to bring high-speed Internet to 5,806 homes in rural Alberta.
to over C$929,000 financing High-speed internet connections were also announced for 528 homes in the North West River and the Sheshatsu Inu First Nation in Newfoundland and Labrador.
In the same month, C$555,777 in financing The announcement was made to help bring high-speed internet to 136 homes in rural North Bay, Ontario.
Finally, a “historical associationThe announcement was made in late February to help people in Newfoundland and Labrador as well. $136 million was allocated to connect all remaining rural households in the province to reliable, high-speed Internet.
Of this funding, up to $116 million came from the Government of Canada through the Universal Broadband Fund and up to $20 million from the Government of Newfoundland and Labrador.
march
In March the federal and provincial governments made additional announcements Benefiting families in rural Ontario. Over $6 million in funding was committed to provide 1,191 households in rural Ontario with access to reliable high-speed Internet. Some of these communities include Innerkip, Strathallan and Bremer.
In December 2021, the federal government and the province of Alberta announced they would provide up to C$300 million in joint funding to connect rural Alberta communities to high-speed internet. In March, the government built on this announcement, noting that it would bring its total funding commitment to connectivity in Alberta to the maximum $390 million,
In addition, the governments of Canada and British Columbia announced partnership Investing up to $830 million to support projects that improve access to high-speed Internet in rural, remote and Indigenous communities across British Columbia. Under the plan, both levels of government are to contribute C$415 million to help connect the entire province of British Columbia.
april
On 19 April, Govt. announced More than C$56 million in combined new federal and provincial funding for six projects to bring high-speed Internet access to more than 6,500 homes in rural northern and southwestern Ontario as well as First Nation communities.
And a few days later, on 22 April, C$1,079,430 was funded announced To bring high-speed internet to 625 rural homes in Newfoundland and Labrador.
In the same month, the governments of Canada and Ontario also announced an investment of $11 million to provide high-speed Internet access to more than 6,100 homes, farms and businesses in Bruce and Gray counties by the end of 2022.
May
in excess of C$5.3 million funding was announced Bell Canada, Golden Rural High Speed and Hurontel to bring high-speed internet to nearly 2,000 homes in rural Ontario. Some of the communities benefiting from this announcement include Alberton, Bogeys Beach, Burnt River and Caledon Village.
Later in May, the federal Minister of Rural Economic Development and British Columbia’s Minister of Civil Services announced Up to C$108 million in combined federal and provincial funding to provide high-speed internet access to 4,000 homes and mobile connectivity to seven communities in rural British Columbia, including First Nations communities.
june
On June 3, Govt. announced C$55 million in federal funding for Rogers and ExploreNet to bring high-speed Internet access to rural communities throughout New Brunswick. This funding provided faster service for more than 100 communities in New Brunswick.
Quebec was another province that gained faster service in June. The joint funding with the Government of Quebec was up to C$8.2 million. announced To bring high-speed internet to 25 communities in rural Quebec.
july
government in july announced Over C$750,000 in funding for Maze Networks to bring high-speed internet to 357 rural households in Campbellville, Ontario.
Investment to bring high speed internet closer 700 houses Announcements were also made in Newfoundland and Labrador.
august
On 26 August, Govt. announced C$404,936 in funding for Bell Canada to improve mobile connectivity in the Atikmekw First Nation community of Wamotasi. It is one of many steps to help close the digital divide and improve connectivity in many First Nations communities.
september
In September, there was approximately C$2 million announced In joint federal and provincial funding for two projects by CitiWest to bring high-speed Internet access to 663 homes in Keats Island and New Brighton, British Columbia.
october
The Governments of Canada and Ontario have partnered with Southwestern Integrated Fiber Technology (SWIFT) Inc. complete construction Broadband infrastructure that will provide reliable high-speed internet service to 470 households, farms and businesses in the Waterloo region.
in over C$56 million combined wealth Three projects were announced by Bell and Cogeco to bring high-speed Internet access to more than 16,000 homes in rural communities in Eastern Ontario. The Bell projects are to be completed in 2025 and the Cogeco project is set to be completed by March 2024.
There was also funding for communities in Newfoundland and Labrador. announced, The project aims to provide high-speed internet access to 664 homes in Wabush and Labrador City and is expected to be completed in May of next year.
november
In November, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau announced C$475 million top-up for UBF. The aim of the top-up is to help connect an additional 60,000 rural households across Canada.
To support the people of New Brunswick, the Prime Minister announced up to C$17.6 million on top of the previously announced C$55 million in federal funding to provide high-speed internet access to a total of more than 27,000 homes in New Brunswick Of. ,
On November 10, combined federal and provincial funding of over C$2.6 million was committed to the Tsuut’ina Nation to provide high-speed internet access to more than 300 homes in the indigenous community. announced. The Tsuut’ina Nation established and operated its own Internet Service Provider (ISP), Tsuut’ina Nation Telecommunications, to help complete the project and maintain the network.
december
Most recently, in December, a C$31 million broadband fund was announced Nova Scotia and $630,000 was announced for broadband funding Simcoe County,
Canadian government too reported progress It has been made in the last one year. On 15 December, it was noted that since the launch of UBF, 251 projects have been announced to provide affordable and reliable high-speed internet.
With a total of $920 million in federal-provincial co-funding under Canada-Quebec Operation High Speed, Quebec has achieved its goal of providing high-speed Internet access to all residents in the province, a government release said. has done. In addition, provinces such as Prince Edward Island, British Columbia and Nova Scotia are also “very close” to achieving universal connectivity.
