Whitby, ON – The COVID-19 pandemic has highlighted how much we rely on our connections.
Now more than ever, Canadians across the country need access to reliable high-speed Internet
as many of us are working, learning, and staying in touch with friends and family from home.
Right now, too many Canadians living in rural and remote communities lack access to highspeed Internet. Through the Universal Broadband Fund’s (UBF) Rapid Response Stream, the
Government of Canada is taking immediate action to get Canadians connected to the highspeed Internet they need.
Ryan Turnbull, Member of Parliament for Whitby, on behalf of the Honourable Maryam
Monsef, Minister for Women and Gender Equality and Rural Economic Development,
announced $999,200 in federal funding to bring high-speed Internet to 4,557 underserved
households in the communities of Orono, Hampton, Blackstock, Enniskillen, Columbus, Solina,
Manchester, Burketon Station, Pontypool, Raglan, Ashburn, Myrtle Station, Kendal and
Nestleton Station, North Oshawa and Macedonian Village. Ruralwave powered by Rogers is
investing an additional $542,000 and Bell Canada is investing an additional $210,000.
The projects being announced today were approved within six months of the November 2020
formal launch of the now $2.75 billion UBF. Projects funded under the UBF, as well as through
other public and private investments, will help connect 98% of Canadians to high-speed
Internet by 2026 and achieve the national target of 100% connectivity by 2030.
The announcement builds on the progress the Government of Canada has already made to
improve critical infrastructure in Ontario. Since 2015, the federal government has invested over
$2.85 billion in over 4,060 infrastructure projects in Ontario communities with a population of
fewer than 100,000 people. These investments mean 481 km of new or upgraded roads that are making our communities safer; more than 938 projects to provide residents with cleaner,
more sustainable sources of drinking water; and more than 5,427 additional housing units built
in rural communities, helping ensure all Ontarians have a safe place to call home.
Quotes
“The COVID-19 pandemic has proven that reliable, high-speed internet access is a necessity, not
a luxury. This significant Federal Government investment through the Rapid Response Stream
of the Universal Broadband Fund will bring Internet access to more than 4500 households
across rural areas in Durham, including in Brooklin, Myrtle, Ashburn, Myrtle Station, and the
Macedonian Village in Whitby. This high-speed internet access announcement means more
families in our communities will be better supported to work, study, and access other essential
services from home.”
– Ryan Turnbull, Member of Parliament for Whitby
“The last year has put a spotlight on the vital role connectivity plays in the lives of Canadians
and businesses in communities across Canada. Thank you to the Government of Canada for
their support and investment to connect more Canadians to Fixed Wireless Home Broadband
internet in Clarington and Enniskillen and high-speed fibre connectivity in Burketon and
Tyrone.”
-Dan Risebrough Barnes, Director of Operations, Ruralwave
“Access to high-speed broadband networks will be a driver of Canada’s recovery from the
COVID-19 pandemic and of future social and economic prosperity, and Bell has committed to
further accelerating our industry-leading capital investment plan over the next two years to
connect even more communities across the country. We’re proud to invest $$210,000 and to
partner with the Government of Canada in providing residents of Macedonian Village with
access to the fastest fibre home Internet speeds available.”
– Bruce Furlong, Senior Vice-President, Access Engineering and Deployment, Bell Canada
“COVID-19 has reinforced the importance of strong broadband access to how we live, play and
build local prosperity and jobs. My thanks to MP Turnbull and the Government of Canada for
making this investment. Increased broadband availability in underserved areas of our Town, in
particular, will benefit our residents and local businesses for years to come.”
– Don Mitchell, Mayor of the Town of Whitby
“On behalf of the Municipality, I want to thank the Government of Canada and Ruralwave, for
this significant investment in broadband for our underserviced areas. Municipal staff have been
working with internet providers for quite some time to support their efforts in obtaining
funding to support the deployment of broadband infrastructure in our rural communities. This
funding will bring those efforts to fruition and ensure that a number of our rural communities
finally have access to reliable, affordable and stable internet to support our residents who have
shifted to working and learning from home.”
– Adrian Foster, Mayor of the Municipality of Clarington
“Thank you to the federal government and local providers for this funding. It is so incredibly
important to our community. This funding will help our agricultural operations, provide
opportunities for existing and future businesses, people working remotely from home and of
course school age and post-secondary students who are currently attending school virtually.”
– Bobbie Drew, Mayor of the Township of Scugog
“For too long residents in the area like those in Macedonian Village have struggled for internet
service. Many are working from home or have children in school, who even during nonpandemic times, have been at a disadvantage. Regionally, we talk about the residents north of
highway 7 needing service when all the while we have an area right here in the GTA and south
of Highway 7 that is equally disadvantaged. It’s nice to see them acknowledged. We know this is
an essential service in modern times and I’m grateful for our community today.”
– Rhonda Mulcahy, Regional Councillor, Town of Whitby
“I want to thank MP Ryan Turnbull and the Government of Canada for this much needed
funding for broadband internet in Whitby. The past year has shown us how vital high-speed
internet can be for our communities and residents. We need to work to ensure all residents can
have access to high-speed internet service and this funding will help make that happen.”
-Steve Lee, North Ward Councillor, Town of Whitby
Quick facts
• Canada’s Connectivity Strategy aims to provide all Canadians with access to Internet speeds of at
least 50 megabits per second (Mbps) download / 10 Mbps upload.
• The Universal Broadband Fund (UBF) is a $2.75-billion investment designed to help connect all
Canadians to high-speed Internet. Applications to the UBF were accepted until March 15, 2021 and
are now being evaluated.
• The UBF is part of a suite of federal investments to improve high-speed Internet. The suite includes
the Connect to Innovate program, which is expected to connect nearly 400,000 households by 2023,
and the recently announced $2-billion broadband initiative from the Canada Infrastructure Bank.
