Ontario’s Premier says he’s on the federal government “like a dog on a bone” when it comes to securing funding for broadband expansion in northern Ontario.
The government announced in the Throne Speech that it will accelerate the connectivity timelines and ambitions of the Universal Broadband Fund to ensure that all Canadians, no matter where they live, have access to high-speed internet.
Doug Ford stresses “There’s no infrastructure project. No trains, no subways, no roads, no bridges more important to the people of Ontario, especially in rural communities, than broadband. It changes their lives.”
Ford says “Just imagine if I went out and I just cut your cable out. Bang! You’re done! No internet! Their would be riots on the street. Why should the people in the north be punished. It’s ridiculous. We’re going to move. If we have to do it alone, we’ll start moving with public-private partnerships. But we need the feds. There’s no region in all of Canada that can do this without the federal support.”
He says he recently raised the issue with Primer Minister Justin Trudeau and the Deputy Prime Minister.
Ford notes the Deputy Prime Minister promised him that all of Canada will have broadband connectivity, so he must fulfill that promise.
He stresses they don’t have to do it all in one shot.
Ford adds his government has put $315-million into making sure broadband is more accessible across the province.
He believes it will cost about $10 to $15 billion to do the entire province.
