The governments of Canada and British Columbia recognize the important role access to high-speed Internet will have in economic recovery following the pandemic.
The Honourable Gudie Hutchings, minister of rural economic development, and the Honourable Lisa Beare, British Columbia's minister of citizens' services, announced a historic partnership to invest up to $830 million to support projects that will improve access to high-speed Internet in rural, remote and Indigenous communities throughout British Columbia.
"We need to close the connection gap and ensure that every nook and cranny of British Columbia has access to reliable high-speed Internet—from Masset to Keats Island, from Dease Lake to Lillooet, or from Hendrix Lake all the way to Port Alice. That's why today's Canada-B.C. broadband partnership of up to $830 million toward connecting all remaining rural households in the province is a historic milestone for British Columbians. The Government of Canada will continue to make investments like these to help connect every Canadian and achieve our national target of connecting 98% of Canadians by 2026 and 100% by 2030,” said Hutchings.
Under this partnership, both levels of government will contribute up to $415 million to connect the entire province of British Columbia. British Columbia's funding will build on investments made to date and will include the $289 million announced in B.C.'s Budget 2022. It is worthy to note that since 2015, the Government of Canada has announced more than $135 million in funding for 38 projects to bring improved speeds to more than 35,000 households in British Columbia.
"We know how important connectivity is to every British Columbian to support our growing economy and ensure we are putting people first. That's why, with the launch of our new program, Connecting Communities BC, we're committing to accelerate the target in our province to close the digital divide and connect all of B.C. by 2027," added Beare.
