OXFORD COUNTY – The governments of Canada and Ontario are investing more than $3.4 million to bring reliable high-speed internet to more than 1,040 families, farms and businesses in Oxford County.
“Ensuring that residents, especially those in rural communities, have reliable access to high-speed internet is vital to community development and well-being,” said Bryan May, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of National Defence and Member of Parliament for Cambridge, on behalf of the Honourable Dominic LeBlanc, Minister of Intergovernmental Affairs, Infrastructure and Communities. “Today’s announcement will ensure that over 1,000 homes, businesses, and farms in Oxford County have improved access to essential online services for years to come.”
The federal and provincial governments have partnered with Southwest Integrated Fibre Technology (SWIFT) Inc. and are proud to announce that residents in the communities of Fairview, Maplewood, Brooksdale, Youngesville, Bennington, Braemar, Hickson, Strathallan, Huntingford and Willow Lake now have broadband infrastructure to enable access to high-speed internet service.
In addition, projects enabling service to the communities of Salford, Hagles Corners, Foldens, Curries, Culloden, Delmer and Ostrander are also now complete.
“Our government 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 Oxford 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 four more projects under the SWIFT project 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.
“There are still many people, especially rural residents, who do not have reliable internet access to stay regularly connected to family and friends, or to access public services such as health care,” said Oxford MPP Ernie Hardeman. “The completion of these new infrastructure projects in Oxford will benefit numerous families and businesses and help to expand and create new opportunities.”
The contracts to expand broadband services in Oxford County were awarded by SWIFT, a not-for-profit corporation, initiated by local municipalities to address connectivity in Southwestern Ontario.
“Connectivity is key to empowering businesses, strengthening local economies and unlocking new opportunities for innovation and growth across our region,” said Gary McNamara, SWIFT Board Chair. “And today in partnership with the governments of Ontario and Canada, we are pleased to mark the completion of four high-speed fibre-optic projects that are now collectively providing more than 1,000 additional rural homes and businesses in Oxford County 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.
SOURCE Province of Ontario
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