(Markham-Stouffville, Ontario) The COVID-19 pandemic has highlighted how much we rely on high-speed internet connections. Now more than ever, Canadians across the country need access to reliable high-speed Internet for work, learning and staying in touch with friends and family. Many Canadians living in rural and remote communities lack access to high-speed Internet. Through the Universal Broadband Fund’s (UBF) Rapid Response Stream, the Government of Canada is taking action to get Canadians connected to the high-speed Internet they need.
Today, Helena Jaczek, Member of Parliament for Markham—Stouffville, on behalf of the Honourable Maryam Monsef, Minister for Women and Gender Equality and Rural Economic Development, announced just under $125,000 in funding for Bell to bring high-speed Internet to rural residents of Lemonville and Locust Hill. These projects will connect 144 underserved households to high-speed Internet:
The projects being announced today were approved within five months of the November 2020 formal launch of the $1.75-billion Universal Broadband Fund. Projects funded under the UBF, as well as through other public and private investments, will help us connect 98% of Canadians to high-speed Internet by 2026 and 100% by 2030.
Today’s announcement builds on the progress the Government of Canada has already made to improve broadband access in Ontario. Since 2015, the federal government has approved over 4,060 infrastructure projects, totaling over $2.85 billion in federal investments in Ontario communities.
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“Canadians depend on connectivity for work, education, access to health services, and to remain connected with loved ones. Connectivity is also essential for Canada’s economic success. There are communities across Canada—including areas of Markham-Stouffville--that cannot access high-speed internet. Our government is working hard to close that connectivity gap. We’ve connected an estimated 1.7 million households since 2015. I’ve been advocating for more help for residents in rural near-urban communities, like we have in our riding. I raised the issue in committee and directly with the Ministers responsible, so I was pleased when our government launched the $1.75 billion Universal Broadband Fund (UBF). I’m excited that the first intake has led to two successful projects from Markham-Stouffville. It will make a big difference for those residents. We’ll continue working to ensue more success stories in the future.”
- Helena Jaczek, Member of Parliament for Markham Stouffville
“High-speed Internet service is essential to the success of everyone living and working in rural Ontario. Today’s investment will bring reliable, high-speed Internet access to 144 households in Preston Lake, Lemonville and Locust Hill, helping create jobs, improving access to health care and online learning services, and keeping people connected to their loved ones. Our government has committed nearly $242 million to 40 connectivity projects in Ontario, which will connect 87,000 more households to better, faster Internet. We will continue to make investments like these to help connect every Canadian to the high-speed Internet they need.”
- Hon. Maryam Monsef, Minister for Women and Gender Equality and Rural Economic Development
“On behalf of the Town of Whitchurch-Stouffville, I would like to thank MP Jaczek and the Federal government for this much needed funding. I applaud Bell’s efforts to partner with the communities of Lemonville who have been advocating for improved internet connectivity for quite some time.”
- Iain Lovatt, Mayor of Whitchurch-Stouffville
"I would like to thank the Government of Canada for this significant broadband infrastructure investment and recognizing the importance of connecting communities with high-speed internet. In particular to Markham, the community of Locust Hill has been in need of service improvements and this investment is a long time coming and it is a testament to the federal government's commitment to universal broadband access for Canadians. Thank you to our local member of federal parliament, Dr. Helena Jaczek for her advocacy on behalf of the residents of Locust Hill in the City of Markham."
- Frank Scarpitti, Mayor of Markham
"The residents Locust Hill and Green River are thrilled that broadband internet will finally be available in our community, it connects us digitally to rest of Markham and enhances our quality of life, and creates opportunity for our children."
- John Kasias, local resident
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