$97M to pay for internet access in northern Ont.
On Monday, the federal and provincial governments announced joint funding of $97 million to increase internet access across parts of northern Ontario.
The areas getting improved service include areas along Highway 17, from Sudbury to Sault Ste Marie-Algoma and Manitoulin Island -- a total of 60 communities and 18,650 homes.
The announcement was made Monday at Sudbury's Dynamic Earth by Nickel Belt MP Marc Serré, Sudbury MP Viviane Lapointe and Sault Ste Marie MP Terry Sheehan.
Gudie Hutchings, Federal Minister of Rural Economic Development, and Amarjot Sandhu, Parliamentary Assistant to Ontario’s Minister of Infrastructure, were also in attendance to make the announcement.
"Obviously, northern Ontario has some special needs. We have different priorities, different ways to build networks," said Serré.
"This is an example of us coming together with the private sector to ensure that we get the broadband to the people of northern Ontario.
On Monday, the federal and provincial governments announced joint funding of $97 million to increase internet access across parts of northern Ontario. (Amanda Hicks/CTV News)
'Game changer'
Sheehan described the announcement as a 'game changer.'
"Whether it's education, you know, for jobs, the economy, for health care and just, you know, social inclusion," he said.
"It'll be beneficial for seniors, too."
The funding will go to ROCK Networks, part of the PomeGran group, to design, build and operate the network. It is part of a joint program from the federal and provincial governments to ensure all homes across Canada have access to the internet.
"It takes a lot of money because you're basically laying the fiber line in under the ground, so it's money, it's contractors," said Hutchings.
"It's getting that work done to get the fibre in the ground and then getting the connections to the home."
Serré said access to the internet is a concern he often hears from residents in his riding.
"I hear it around Nickel Belt, in Sudbury and actually all across northern Ontario," he said. "
I hear from mayors, I hear from organizations and municipalities, businesses especially, that we need to do more."
- Download our app to get local alerts on your device
- Get the latest local updates right to your inbox
Serré said he also hears about access to better cellular service.
"We know we need to do more, but this is a start," he said.
The federal government said plans are underway to have the work completed by the end of 2025.
Correction
This story has been corrected to say the funding has been awarded to ROCK Networks, part of the PomeGran group.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Trudeau cabinet ministers voice confidence in PM day before key Liberal meeting
Several members of Justin Trudeau's cabinet are voicing support for the prime minister one day before a highly anticipated Liberal caucus meeting where his future leadership is expected to be up for discussion.
Toronto woman spends nearly $2K on parking to visit mom in health-care facilities
A Toronto woman said the cost of parking to visit her mother in hospital, and later in long term care, for 15 months was a financial burden she feels she shouldn’t have had to pay.
Hoard of 1,000-year-old coins unearthed in a farmer's field sells for US$5.6 million
Adam Staples knew he'd found something when his metal detector let out a beep. And then another. And another.
W5 Investigates You donated clothing to needy Canadians. So how did it end up in Africa?
In the first of a four-part investigation into the seedy underbelly of the lucrative clothing donation bin industry, CTV W5 puts a spotlight on how some of the clothes Canadians donate to charity end up in markets in Africa.
Former Abercrombie & Fitch chief Mike Jeffries arrested on federal sex trafficking charges
Former Abercrombie & Fitch CEO Michael Jeffries, his romantic partner and a third man were arrested Tuesday on sex trafficking and interstate prostitution charges, a spokesperson for federal prosecutors said.
Italian surfer dies after being impaled by fish off the coast of Indonesia
An Italian surfer has died after being impaled in the chest by a sharp-billed fish while surfing off Indonesia’s West Sumatra coast.
Tropical Storm Oscar swirls toward the Bahamas after hitting Cuba as a hurricane
Tropical Storm Oscar chugged toward the Bahamas on Tuesday after making landfall in Cuba as a Category 1 hurricane, killing at least six people as it unleashed heavy rains on an island also hit by an unrelated massive power outage.
Woman wedged upside down between rocks for 7 hours after trying to retrieve her phone
A woman who tried to retrieve her lost phone from between boulders in Australia’s Hunter Valley became stuck upside down for seven hours before she was rescued earlier this month.
Vermont man charged with drunk driving in Ottawa Valley thought he was still in U.S.
Ontario Provincial Police charged an impaired Vermont man who illegally crossed the border into Canada and thought he was still in the United States.