Canada and Alberta invest $112M to ensure fast internet to more than 22,500 households

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The government of Canada and Alberta invest more than $112 million to ensure high-speed internet access to more than 22,500 households in the province. 

 

Canada’s Minister of Rural Economic Development and Minister Gudie Hutchings and Alberta’s Minister of Technology and Innovation Nate Glubish together announced the initiative on March 5, Tuesday.

 

The 22,500 households which will receive high-speed internet span across 166 rural and remote communities, the government release stated.

 

The investment was made under an already existing agreement between Canada and Alberta. Last year in March, both govrenments announced a broadband partnership to invest up to $780 million to provide fast internet in rural, remote and Indigenous communities. 

 

The government of Canada ultimately hopes to ensure high-speed internet by 2026 to at least 98 per cent of the citizens and 100 per cent by 2030.

 

Hutchings emphasized that the internet is a “necessity.” 

 

“That’s why your government made a historic commitment to connect 98% of Canadians to high-speed Internet by 2026. Today’s announcement in Siksika Nation marks a significant milestone for Internet connectivity in rural Alberta. This investment will provide reliable high-speed Internet access to more than 22,500 underserved homes in 166 rural and remote communities in Alberta,” she said.

 

Glubish expressed confidence that the governments are “on track to achieving our goal of connecting every single Alberta household to high-speed Internet by 2027.”

 

Since 2015, the Government of Canada said it has invested more than $488 million in connectivity projects in Alberta.