The governments of Canada and British Columbia are investing up to $24.7 million to bring high-speed internet to more than 5,000 homes

Residents of rural communities will benefit from high-speed internet connectivity

VANCOUVER ISLAND, BC, November 25, 2022 /CNW/ – Today, the Honorable Gudie Hutchings, Minister of Rural Economic Development, along with Michele Babchukmember of the North Island Legislative Assembly, announced until $24$0.7 million in federal and provincial funding to bring high-speed Internet access to more than 5,000 homes in rural communities in British Columbia.

As part of this announcement, $19.5 million in federal-provincial co-funding was announced to benefit 4,000 households in the following regional districts: Mount Waddington, North Coast, Bulkley-Nechako, qathet, Columbia-Shuswap and Cowichan Valley. Details of these projects, including the specific communities to be served, will be announced at a later date.

Another $5Federal and provincial funding of $0.2 million will bring high-speed Internet access to more than 1,100 homes on and around Vancouver Island through seven projects with CityWest.

This funding is part of an existing agreement between the governments of the Canada and British Columbia. In March 2022the two governments announced a historic partnership to invest up to $830 million to connect all remaining rural, remote and Indigenous households in the province to high-speed internet.

Today’s announcement builds on the Government of from Canada progress towards ensuring that 98% of Canadians have access to high-speed Internet by 2026 and 100% by 2030. The Government of Canada continue to invest in infrastructure to build strong communities and a more competitive and resilient society Canada for everyone.

Quotation

“We all know that the internet is no longer a luxury these days, it’s a necessity. Access to fast and reliable internet helps communities by leveling the playing field so they can access services essentials like healthcare and education, participating in digital or simply connecting with loved ones.Our government will continue to work side-by-side with our partners to achieve our connectivity goals and ensure that all Canadians, wherever they live, have access to high-speed internet by 2030.”
– The Honorable Gudie Hutchings, Minister of Rural Economic Development

The story continues

“Connectivity is vital in today’s world. That’s why I’m delighted to announce $24.7 million in joint provincial-federal funding to connect rural, remote and Indigenous communities to the high-speed Internet they deserve. Reliable, quality connectivity provides communities with access to the digital economy as well as education and training, and it connects people to those who matter most to them. Today we are one step closer to our goal of connecting all British Columbia to high-speed Internet by 2027.”
– Michele BabchukMember of the North Island Legislative Assembly

Fast facts

• The Universal Broadband Fund (UBF) is a $3.225 billion investment by the government of Canada designed to help connect 98% of Canadians to high-speed Internet by 2026 and achieve the national goal of 100% connectivity by 2030.

• Today, 93.5% of Canadian households have access to high-speed Internet or are targeted to receive access through existing program commitments, compared to just 79% in 2014.

• from Canada The connectivity strategy aims to provide all Canadians with access to Internet speeds of at least 50 megabits per second (Mbps) download / 10 Mbps upload.

• In March 2022, Canada and British Columbia announced a broadband partnership. This agreement represents a plan to connect all remaining rural households in British Columbia to high-speed Internet with a combined total investment of up to $830 million.

• Since 2015, the government of Canada invested more than $523 million in connectivity projects in British Columbia.

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View original content: http://www.newswire.ca/en/releases/archive/November2022/25/c2861.html