New program includes a Rapid Response Stream to meet urgent community needs over the next year 

NICKEL BELT – GREATER SUDBURY- Canada is facing the most serious public health crisis in our history. COVID-19 has altered everything about our way of life. It has exposed and compounded existing inequalities and vulnerabilities and has hit rural communities hard.

Far too many residents of Nickel Belt – Greater Sudbury lack access to reliable high-speed internet which has had a dramatic impact on their quality of life. Now, more than ever, everyone needs reliable access to high-speed Internet as we work, learn and keep in touch with friends and family from home.

Our government has long recognized the need to connect every home, every business and every community to fast and dependable internet. That’s why we put forward the country’s first national strategy to achieve universal connectivity, backed up with billions of dollars in federal funding. We are already seeing results, having had approved projects and programs that will connect more than 1.7 million Canadian households to better, faster internet.

Recognizing the need to accelerate that progress, today, Marc G. Serré, MP for Nickel Belt is announcing the launch of the enhanced and expanded Universal Broadband Fund (UBF), which will help improve high-speed Internet access and mobile connectivity across Canada. That includes underserved communities here in Nickel Belt – Greater Sudbury. Originally designed as a $1 billion program, the Government has increased funding for UBF to $1.75 billion, to help connect more Canadians and allow them to better prepare for the future.

The enhanced UBF also recognizes the need for urgency. Connectivity can’t wait and we will not allow government bureaucracy to stand in the way. That’s why the program now includes the Rapid Response Stream (RPS), an accelerated application process that will allow shovel-ready projects to get started right away. This RPS will benefit local telecom companies in Northern Ontario and further contribute to our economic recovery. The application period is now open and community partners and stakeholders are encouraged to apply for funding. https://www.ic.gc.ca/eic/site/139.nsf/eng/h_00012.html

Our government is also committing $600 million to secure low-earth-orbit satellite capacity through Telesat, in order to provide high-speed internet to the most rural and remote parts of Canada.

Canada’s economic recovery will depend on strength, innovation and growth of rural communities and access to high-speed internet is essential to ensuring they are included in, and can help drive, the country’s economy as we recover from this crisis.

Today’s announcement builds on our government’s strong record of delivery for rural Canada. Since 2015, we have approved funding for over 17,000 infrastructure projects in communities of under 100,000 in population. Of these, almost 90 percent have been investments in communities with a population of less than 30,000 people. More than 6,100 kilometers of highways and roads, and 103 bridges have been built, repaired or upgraded in rural communities, and Canadians in more than 1,279 rural communities have access to cleaner, more sustainable sources of drinking water. To address homelessness and the need for affordable housing 1,375 projects have been approved, delivering more than $393 million to rural communities across the country.

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“Our communities’ economic development and ability to overcome the challenges of this pandemic greatly depends on having access to quality and affordable internet and cellular coverage for all. Working closely with municipal governments, the private sector and stakeholders, I will continue to advocate to ensure this important funding will benefit Nickel Belt – Greater Sudbury.” – Marc G. Serré, MP Nickel Belt

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Contact

Kaylie Dudgeon,
Special Assistant
Marc G. Serré MP Nickel Belt
[email protected]
705-897-2222