Reliable access to high-speed Internet is a must for all Canadians. It brings family and friends closer together, helps us work and study, and connects Canadian businesses with customers around the world. From coast to coast to coast to coast, connecting people in rural, remote and indigenous communities to fast and reliable high-speed Internet will help create good, middle-class jobs and build an economy that works for all Canadians.
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau announced today that he is adding $475 million to the Universal Broadband Fund (UBF). The recharge will help connect an additional 60,000 rural homes across Canada to achieve our goal of providing high-speed Internet access to every community in every province and territory.
To date, the Government of Canada has already announced that up to 900,000 more homes will have access to high-speed internet. Percentage of Canadians by 2026. Already today, 93.5 percent of Canadian homes have access to high-speed Internet or aim to have it through existing program commitments, compared to just 79 percent in 2014.
To better support the people of New Brunswick, the Premier also announced up to $17.6 million, in addition to the previously announced $55 million in federal funding, to provide high-speed Internet to a total of more than 27,000 homes in New Brunswick. This expansion means that by 2030, we plan to provide high-speed Internet access to every home in New Brunswick.
As Canadians face the rising cost of living due to global inflation, we will continue to bring high-speed Internet to those who need it for $10 or $20 a month through our Connecting Families initiative. Eligibility for this initiative was recently expanded to include seniors receiving the maximum Guaranteed Income Supplement (GIS) from families receiving the maximum Canada Child Benefit (CCB). Through this partnership, we’re helping hundreds of thousands of low-income families and seniors connect to affordable high-speed Internet.
The Government of Canada will continue to work with provinces and territories, municipalities, local communities and internet service providers to ensure that all Canadians, no matter where they live, have access to high-speed internet as soon as possible.
Quotes
“From the student who relies on the Internet to turn in their assignments on time to the small business owner who sells their products online around the world, every Canadian deserves good, reliable high-speed Internet, no matter where they are in the country. With today’s announcement, we will continue to improve and expand access to high-speed internet in every community across the country to build an economy that works for all Canadians.”
“We all know that the internet is no longer a luxury in this day and age, it’s a necessity. Fast, reliable Internet access helps rural Canadians by equalizing opportunities to access essential services like health and education, participate in the digital economy, or simply connect with loved ones. Today’s announcement reinforces our commitment to connect 100 per cent of Canadians by 2030, no matter where they live. In addition, I am pleased to report that we have covered more than 93.5 per cent of Canadians, compared to 79 per cent. in 2014 and we are on the way to reach our goal.
Fast Facts
- The Universal Broadband Fund (UBF) is a $3.225 billion investment by the Canadian government to help 98 percent of Canadians have access to reliable high-speed internet by 2026 and 100 percent of Canadians by 2030.
- The government has partnered with several provinces to ensure UBF dollars go further. This includes British Columbia, Alberta, Ontario, Quebec (High Speed Operation Phases 1 and 2), Newfoundland and Labrador, and Prince Edward Island.
- To date, the Canadian government has invested $7.6 billion in broadband infrastructure to connect communities from coast to coast.
- The Government of Canada has also launched an update to the National Broadband Internet Service Availability Map. Through this interactive tool, Canadians can find internet service providers and connectivity projects in their area.
- To provide Canadians with the latest information on the government’s progress toward universal high-speed Internet access, the government also released an interactive High-Speed Internet Access Dashboard today. The dashboard allows Canadians to track national progress and government funding by province and territory.
- The Government of New Brunswick’s Remote Satellite Internet Rebate Program will help connect remote homes not covered by UBF projects in the province.