MIDDLESEX COUNTY – The governments of Canada and Ontario are investing over $2.8 million to bring reliable high-speed internet to 665 families, farms, and businesses in Middlesex County.
“Providing reliable internet access is especially important for rural communities to prosper in our increasingly digital world,” said Arielle Kayabaga, Member of Parliament for London West, on behalf of the Honourable Sean Fraser, Minister of Housing, Infrastructure and Communities. “Today’s announcement marks another milestone for homes, businesses, and farms in Middlesex County that can now connect to essential online services and enjoy the additional economic opportunities made available through high-speed internet.”
The federal and provincial governments have partnered with Southwestern Integrated Fibre Technology (SWIFT) Inc. to provide residents in the communities of Christina, Longwood, Mayfair, Middlemiss, and Muncey with access to broadband infrastructure that will enable high-speed internet service.
“Ontario continues to deliver on its commitment to expand access to high-speed internet to communities across the province,” said Lisa Thompson, Minister of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs. “By building new broadband infrastructure in Middlesex County, we’re helping to build Ontario and strengthen rural communities. This investment is helping people stay in touch with loved ones, enabling them to access the supports they need while providing a much-needed boost to the local economy.”
This announcement marks the completion of two more projects under SWIFT and builds on the Ontario government’s plan to get the right infrastructure in the right places – ensuring people can live, work and farm where they want.
“Ensuring more rural families, workers, and businesses can connect to fast, reliable high-speed internet is crucial to Southwestern Ontario’s long-term economic success,” said Monte McNaughton, MPP for Lambton-Kent-Middlesex. “By investing in broadband for everyone, our government will continue to bring people closer to the things that matter most to them.”
The contracts to expand broadband services in Middlesex County were awarded by SWIFT, a not-for-profit corporation initiated by local municipalities to address connectivity in Southwestern Ontario.
“With the support of the federal and provincial governments, SWIFT is making strong progress in the expansion of broadband infrastructure across Southwestern Ontario,” said Gary McNamara, SWIFT Board Chair. “Today’s announcement builds on our program’s commitment to drive greater connectivity throughout the region. We are pleased to mark the completion of construction on two high-speed networks in Middlesex County that are now collectively providing 665 previously underserved homes and businesses with access to fast reliable broadband service.”
More than $255 million has been invested by the governments of Canada and Ontario and the private sector to bring high-speed internet access to more than 63,000 homes and businesses in Southwestern Ontario through SWIFT by the end of 2023.
Quick Facts
- 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.
- The Ontario government is investing nearly $4 billion to bring high-speed internet access to every corner of the province by the end of 2025. This is the largest single investment in high-speed internet in Canadian history.
- In July 2021, the governments of Canada and Ontario announced a historic agreement that will bring high-speed internet access to more than 280,000 Ontario households across the province through a joint investment totaling more than $1.2 billion.
- Ontario launched a new interactive online map that shows where provincially funded high-speed internet projects are planned, currently under way, or have been recently completed in communities across the province. Ontarians can visit Ontario.ca/highspeedinternet and search by address, community or municipality to find out more about provincially funded high-speed internet projects and where high-speed internet service is currently available.
SOURCE Province of Ontario
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