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High-speed Internet coming to nearly 2,000 households in Peace Region

by ahnationtalk on July 27, 2015520 Views

Government of Canada announces major investment that will bring fast, reliable Internet services to 16 communities in the Peace Region

July 25, 2015 – Dawson Creek, British Columbia – Industry Canada

Everyday tasks that were once done in person, such as shopping, communicating, learning and banking, are now done online. To help Canadian communities, businesses and families have better access to these and many other online opportunities, Bob Zimmer, Member of Parliament for Prince George–Peace River, on behalf of the Honourable James Moore, Minister of Industry and Minister Responsible for British Columbia, today announced that the Government of Canada will provide the Peace Region Internet Society with up to $278,000 to connect nearly 2,000 homes in the Peace Region to faster Internet services.

Mr. Zimmer highlighted the fact that nearly 2,000 households in the Peace Region will benefit from the investment announced today. This broadband infrastructure project is expected to be completed by the end of 2017, delivering Internet download speeds at a minimum speed of five megabits per second (Mbps).

For all Canadians, the Internet is a tool that spurs economic growth, broadens opportunities and connects friends and family from coast to coast to coast. For Canadians who live in communities with slow or no Internet, access to high-speed services will lead to new economic opportunities and the creation of new jobs, products and services.

By Canada’s 150th birthday in 2017, over 98 percent of Canadian households will be able to subscribe to new or improved high-speed Internet services, which helps deliver on the Government’s commitment to rural Canadians.

Quick facts

  • The households to be connected in the Peace Region under today’s announcement are in the following communities and the surrounding areas:
    • Arras, Baldonnel, Blueberry River First Nations, Cecil Lake, Charlie Lake, Chetwynd, Clayhurst, Dawson Creek, Fort St. John, Hudson’s Hope, Jackfish Lake, Kiskatinaw, Progress, Rose Prairie, Taylor and Tomslake.
  • Through Economic Action Plan 2014, the Government of Canada created the Connecting Canadians program, backed by a $305-million commitment to connect an additional 280,000 households in rural and remote regions of the country to high-speed Internet services at minimum speeds of 5 Mbps.
  • The Government has exceeded its Economic Action Plan 2014 target by over 75,000 households in the first round of project approvals, bringing high-speed Internet access to more than 356,000 homes across Canada, and nearly 40 percent under budget.
  • Last summer, the Government invited Canadians to provide feedback online to help better determine areas in need of high-speed Internet access. Once information was received, Industry Canada invited Internet service providers to submit proposals for funding under Connecting Canadians to build the wireless or wired infrastructure that will provide services to rural and remote communities in need.
  • The first projects are expected to be completed by the time Canada celebrates the 150th anniversary of Confederation in 2017.
  • Industry Canada received over 300 applications to the Connecting Canadians program from Internet service providers across Canada.
  • Every province and territory across the country will benefit from the Connecting Canadians program. Announcements of individual projects will be made throughout the summer.

Quotes

“Today’s announcement is another step toward our government’s goal of bringing high-speed Internet to rural and remote communities across Canada. Access to high-speed Internet will ensure that all Canadians can unlock the tremendous economic potential of a digitally connected Canada.”
– James Moore, Minister of Industry and Minister Responsible for British Columbia

“With this new investment by the Government of Canada, residents of the Peace Region will now have faster, more reliable Internet access, allowing more of us the opportunity to share our beautiful region online and better connect with the rest of the world.”
– Bob Zimmer, Member of Parliament for Prince George–Peace River

“Since its establishment in 1994, the Peace Region Internet Society has been striving to provide Internet connectivity to the communities and rural areas of northern British Columbia’s Peace River region. With this funding, we will be able to provide affordable high-speed Internet services to over 1,800 households and businesses throughout the region for many years to come. Our sincere thanks and appreciation go to James Moore, Minister of Industry, Bob Zimmer, MP for Prince George–Peace River, the Government of Canada and Industry Canada for making this project a reality.”
– Brad Melanson, System Administrator, Peace Region Internet Society

“On behalf of the residents and businesses that will benefit from the assistance provided to the Peace Region Internet Society under the Connecting Canadians program; I express our gratitude to the minister, James Moore, Industry Canada and Bob Zimmer, our member of Parliament. This funding will be used to expand and enhance access to high-speed Internet for rural and remote communities in northeast British Columbia.”
– Bill Lindsay, President, Peace Region Internet Society

Associated link

Contacts

Jake Enwright
Press Secretary
Office of the Minister of Industry
343-291-2500

Media Relations
Industry Canada
343-291-1777
media-relations@ic.gc.ca

NT4

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