The federal and provincial governments are spending a total of $1.2 billion to hook up more rural, remote and First Nation communities in Ontario to high-speed Internet.
A number of the locations benefiting from the large-scale, fibre-based projects are in the Kenora and Rainy River districts.
Deputy Prime Minister Crystia Freeland says the pandemic showed how critical this investment is.
“This past year of living and working and studying virtually has, of course, our increased our dependence on high-speed Internet.”
Federal Rural Economic Development Minister Maryam Monsef agrees, stressing access to quality broadband has become an essential service.
“Our goal is to connect as many households, as quickly as possible, and we’re grateful to every single Internet service provider whose brought forward an application.”
More than 280,000 residents in Ontario are expected to be connected by the end of 2021 year.
Provincial Infrastructure Minister Kinga Surma says, “We are taking a huge step forward in our comprehensive and proactive plan that commits nearly $4 billion to achieve 100% connectivity across the province by the end of 2025.”
Regional communities benefiting from Ontario/Canada funding announcement:
Group 1:
Sandy Lake First Nation, Wapekeka First Nation, North Caribou Lake, Deer Lake First Nation, Kasabonika Lake, Kitchenuhmaykoosib Inninuwug Wunnumin Lake, Cat Lake First Nation, Bearskin Lake First Nation, Sachigo Lake First Nation, Poplar Hill First Nation, Kingfisher Lake First Nation, Muskrat Dam Lake, Kee-Way-Win, North Spirit Lake First Nation, Slate Falls First Nation, Mishkeegogamang Ojibway Nation, Ojibway Nation of Saugeen, Wawakapewin First Nation, Pikangikum First Nation
Estimated Number of Homes/Businesses with Increased Access to High-Speed Internet: 3,945
Group 2:
Ignace, Ear Falls, Sioux Lookout, Atikokan, Pickle Lake, Sam Lake, Hudson, Madsen, New Osnaburgh, Red Lake, McKenzie Island, Central Patricia, Cochenour, Balmertown (McDowell Lake), Rat Rapids
Estimated Number of Homes/Businesses with Increased Access to High-Speed Internet: 6,392
Group 3:
Animakee Wa Zhing 37 First Nation, Anishinabe of Wauzhushk Onigum, Anishnaabeg of Naongashiing, Big Grassy, Couchiching First Nation, Grassy Narrows First Nation, Iskatewizaagegan No. 39 Independent First Nation, Lac Des Mille Lacs, Lac La Croix, Lac Seul, Migisi Sahgaigan First Nation, Mitaanjigamiing First Nation, Naicatchewenin, Naotkamegwanning, Nigigoonsiminikaaning First Nation, Niisaachewan Anishinaabe Nation, Obashkaandagaang First Nation, Ojibway Nation of Saugeen, Ojibways of Onigaming First Nation, Rainy River First Nations, Seine River First Nation, Wabaseemoong Independent Nations, Wabauskang First Nation, Wabigoon Lake Ojibway Nation, Devlin/LaVallee, Eagle River, Emo, Mine Centre, Morson, Nestor Falls, Sioux Narrows, Stratton, Upsala, Vermilion Bay, Wabigoon, Wabigoon/Dinorwic
Estimated Number of Homes/Businesses with Increased Access to High-Speed Internet: 2,906
Group 4:
Ginoogaming First Nation, Constance Lake First Nation, Long Lake No.58 First Nation
Estimated Number of Homes/Businesses with Increased Access to High-Speed Internet: 1,181
