Central Eastern Ontario to receive over $68M investment for high-speed internet

On Monday, Apr. 25, 2022, MPP Daryl Kramp announced that Ontario is providing joint funding with the federal government for 62 projects to bring high-speed Internet access to thousands of households in Central Eastern Ontario, including 24 communities in Hastings-Lennox and Addington.

The total public investment for this phase of projects is $68,237,804 with $40,479,556.48 coming from the Ontario Government. The Hastings-Lennox and Addington communities to gain broadband infrastructure are Tweed, Harlowe, Cloyne, Plainfield, Actinolite, Ivanhoe, Flinton, Thomasburg, Northbrook, Arden, Read, Zion Hill, Kaladar, Madoc, Plevna, Marlbank, Rural Plevna, Denbigh, Corbyville, Queensborough, Halloway, Spring Brook, Stirling, and Tamworth.

According to a release from MPP Kramp’s office, these projects build upon an existing relationship between Ontario and Canada. Both governments announced their partnership to support large-scale, fibre-based projects that will provide high-speed Internet access to more than 280,000 rural and remote households across the province on July 29, 2021. This historic agreement was made possible by a joint federal-provincial investment totalling more than $1.2 billion.

“This phase will be another major step forward in connecting rural residents and their communities to modern high-speed internet,” said MPP Daryl Kramp. “These projects cover a lot of territory, some very rugged and challenging, but all in great need of broadband connectivity.”

“The Ontario Government is ensuring every community across the province has access to reliable high-speed Internet by the end of 2025. By working together with our federal partners and Internet service providers, we are increasing access to high-speed Internet and building a stronger foundation for Ontario’s economic growth and prosperity” added the Honourable Kinga Surma, Ontario’s Minister of Infrastructure. “We are ensuring that the agriculture sector and all families, workers and businesses have a better and brighter future. No one will be left behind.”

According to the release, this announcement builds on the Government of Canada’s progress toward ensuring that 98 per cent of Canadians have access to high-speed Internet by 2026, and 100 per cent by 2030. The announcement also brings the Government of Ontario one step closer to achieving its goal of bringing reliable high-speed Internet access to every region of the province by the end of 2025, Kramp’s office stated.