PERTH COUNTY– The governments of Canada and Ontario are investing nearly $1.6 million to bring fast, reliable high-speed internet to more than 380 families, farms and businesses in Perth County.
In partnership with Southwestern Integrated Fibre Technology (SWIFT) Inc, the completion of construction of broadband infrastructure is now providing access to fast, reliable high-speed internet service to more than 110 families, farms and businesses in the communities of Slabtown, Bornholm and Willow Grove. Both levels of government have each committed more than $219,500 to the project.
“Reliable broadband infrastructure is a necessity for Canadian families and businesses in this increasingly connected world,” said Valerie Bradford, Member of Parliament for Kitchener South—Hespeler, on behalf of the Honourable Dominic LeBlanc, Minister of Intergovernmental Affairs, Infrastructure and Communities. “The completion of new fibre technology and additional network infrastructure in Perth County gets us one step closer to connecting all Canadians to high-speed internet by 2030.”
In addition, both governments are each contributing more than $613,000 to support construction of an additional infrastructure network in Perth County, to provide access to high-speed internet service for more than 270 families, farms and businesses in the communities of Britton and Tralee in December 2022.
“Our government is getting it done and delivering on our commitment to provide access to high-speed internet throughout rural Ontario,” said Lisa Thompson, Minister of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs. “Projects like these in Perth County that connect more communities to high-speed internet, are crucial to building a stronger Ontario by helping families and farmers stay in touch with loved ones, enabling them to access supports they need while providing a much-needed boost to the local economies.”
“It is wonderful to see these important investments in high-speed internet being made in rural communities like ours,” Perth-Wellington MPP, Matthew Rae said. “The last few years proved the importance of having access to quality, high-speed internet. That is why I am glad our government has made it a priority to connect everyone to high-speed internet by 2025.”
The contracts to expand broadband services in Perth County were awarded by Southwestern Integrated Fibre Technology (SWIFT) Inc, a not-for-profit corporation initiated by local municipalities to address connectivity in Southwestern Ontario. More than $255 million has been invested by the governments of Canada and Ontario and the private sector, to bring high-speed internet to more than 63,000 households and businesses in Southwestern Ontario through SWIFT by the end of 2025.
“Having access to fast reliable connectivity in the home has become essential for residents and with the support of our provincial and federal governments, SWIFT in partnership with local service providers are making strong progress in expanding high-speed internet service throughout Southwestern Ontario’s underserved communities,” said Gary McNamara, SWIFT Board Chair. “As we respond to the need for greater connectivity across our region, today’s announcement marks yet another step forward in making broadband more accessible for students, families, and businesses throughout Perth County.”
Quick Facts
- This announcement builds on the Ontario government’s plan to connect every community to high-speed internet by 2025.
- The governments of Canada and Ontario are each contributing more than $63 million to SWIFT through the New Building Canada Fund’s Provincial-Territorial Infrastructure Component – Small Communities Fund of the Investing in Canada plan.
- In July 2021, the governments of Canada and Ontario announced a historic agreement that will deliver high-speed Internet to nearly 280,000 rural Ontario households in hundreds of communities across the province through an equal federal-provincial investment totalling more than $1.2 billion.
- The Ontario government has committed nearly $4 billion to bring high-speed internet access to every corner of the province by the end of 2025. This proactive approach is the largest single investment in high-speed internet, in any province, by any government in Canadian history.
- In 2021, Ontario passed the Supporting Broadband and Infrastructure Expansion Act, 2021 to help speed up construction of broadband projects. Ontario is also helping to remove barriers, duplication and delays, making it easier and faster to build high-speed internet infrastructure through the Getting Ontario Connected Act, 2022, which was passed unanimously by the Legislature on April 11, 2022. This legislation helps ensure underserved and unserved communities across the province have access to reliable high-speed internet sooner and will help the government achieve its commitment to connect every region with access to high-speed internet by the end of 2025.
- Expanding access to broadband and cellular service is part of Ontario Onwards: Ontario’s COVID-19 Action Plan for a People-Focused Government, which includes more than 30 projects that are changing the way people and businesses interact with government.
SOURCE Province of Ontario
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