(East Gwillimbury, ON) June 1, 2021 - On Friday, May 28th, the Government of Canada announced it is investing over $192,000 through the Universal Broadband Fund to bring high-speed Internet to residents of rural communities in East Gwillimbury and Vaughan in partnership with Bell. The East Gwillimbury portion of the project will provide a fibre-based, high speed internet to 44 underserved homes in the Callwood Court area of Ward Three.
“With so many families working and learning from home this past year, the need for access to reliable and affordable internet has never been greater. This funding announcement allows us to get closer to our goal of expanding broadband services to all residents and businesses across our community,” says Mayor Hackson. “We are pleased with this great step and will continue to work with internet service providers, like Bell, to make it as easy as possible to expand broadband in EG.”
As part of this term of Council, a Broadband Working Group (BWG) was developed. This Group has been actively engaging internet service providers like Bell for the past 18 months in an effort to encourage expanded service to EG.
The BWG Council Liaison, Ward Three Councillor Scott Crone shared that “this announcement is a testament to the power of collaboration between service providers, funding partners and municipal staff. Together we are taking an important step forward in bridging the connectivity gaps for underserved areas of our community. I look forward to continuing to work with the Broadband Working Group and municipal staff to achieve our vision for complete connectivity that will support service delivery, economic growth and community participation.”
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The $2.75-billion Universal Broadband Fund (UBF) was launched on November 9, 2020. Projects funded under the UBF, as well as through other public and private investments, will help connect 98 per cent of Canadians to high-speed Internet by 2026 and achieve the national target of 100 per cent connectivity by 2030.
Today’s 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 more than $2.85 billion in over 4,060 infrastructure projects in Ontario communities with a population of fewer than 100,000 people. These investments mean 452 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.
For more information visit our Broadband in East Gwillimbury page, or contact our Economic Development Team.
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