Yesterday, Governments of Canada and Ontario, along with Canada Infrastructure Bank (CIB) announced a combined investment of more than C$56 million for three projects by telecommunication companies, Bell Canada and Cogeco Connexion Inc. This investment seeks to bring high-speed Internet access to over 16,000 households in rural communities across eastern Ontario.
“These projects will expand high-speed Internet access to more unserved and underserved communities across eastern Ontario, and they will ensure Ontarians have the ability to learn, work, participate in the agriculture sector, access critical health services and connect with loved ones.” said Amarjot Sandhu, parliamentary assistant to Ontario’s Minister of Infrastructure
This investment is part of the 2021 C$1.2 billion federal-provincial agreement to bring large-scale, fiber-based high speed Internet access to more than 280,000 remote households across the province.
The three projects supported by Bell and Cogeco are as follows:
- Cogeco will receive up to C$1.9 million to bring high speed internet access, by March 2024, to 836 households in Greenhurst-Thurstonia, Omemee and Pleasant Point
- Bell will receive C$23.7 million to bring high speed internet access, by March 2025, to 6,591 households in Alpine Village, Bancroft, Baptiste, Birds Creek, Bridgenorth, Buckhorn, Burleigh Falls, Curve Lake, Detlor, Fife’s Bay, Fort Stewart, Highland Grove, Lakeview Estates, L’Amable, Maple Leaf, Maynooth, McArthurs Mills, Mississagua Landing, Paudash, Youngs Point, Youngstown
- Bell will receive C$30.7 million to bring high speed internet access, by December 2025, to 9,329 households in Bobcaygeon, Bolsover, Burnt River, Carnarvon, Coboconk, Eagle Lake, Fort Irwin, Gooderham, Haliburton, Horseshoe Lake, Ingoldsby, Irondale, Kirkfield, Lakeview Estates, Lochlin, Lutterworth, Minden, Moore Falls, Norland, Peterson Corner, Rosedale, Tory Hill, Victoria Place, Victoria Road, West Guilford