Federal, provincial governments invest $219M in rural high-speed internet access

The federal and provincial governments have announced a joint investment of over $219 million to expand access to high-speed internet across Ontario.

The new access will be concentrated in rural and remote areas in the province, aiming to bring access to more than 66,000 households across 300 communities.

In Hamilton, access is expected to be broadened in the Dundas, Ancaster, Stoney Creek, Waterdown and Binbrook areas.

The announcement came from Oakville MP and President of the Treasury Board Anita Anand and Hamilton West-Dundas-Ancaster MP Filomena Tassi in Dundas.

They were joined by Flamborough-Glanbrook MPP Donna Skelly and Ontario’s Minister of Infrastructure Kinga Surma, who spoke on the vitality of the expansion to Ontario and Hamilton residents.

Federal officials say the announcement moves the government closer to its goal of ensuring 98 per cent of Canadians have access to the internet by 2026 and 100 per cent by 2030.

Currently, 93.5 per cent of all Canadian households have access to high-speed internet.

Minister Tassi said during Monday’s announcement that the expansion is “one step closer to a fully connected Canada.”

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