Harper Government Expands High-Speed Internet to Rural Nova Scotia

TRURO, NOVA SCOTIA--(Marketwired - July 7, 2015) -

Everyday tasks that were once done in person, such as shopping, communicating, learning and banking, are now done online. To help Canadians have better access to these and many other online opportunities, the Honourable Ed Holder, Minister of State (Science and Technology), and Scott Armstrong, Member of Parliament for Cumberland-Colchester-Musquodoboit Valley, announced that the Government of Canada will provide approximately $6 million to Seaside Wireless Communications to bring expanded and improved high-speed Internet services to approximately 14,000 households and businesses in Nova Scotia.

The communities that will benefit under this project include: Pictou, Antigonish, Colchester, Guysborough, Inverness, Cape Breton, Cumberland, Richmond, and Victoria.

The project is expected to be completed by August 2018, delivering average Internet speeds of five megabits per second (Mbps).

For Canadians who live in communities with slow or no Internet, access to high-speed services will lead to new economic opportunities and the creation of new jobs, products and services.

By Canada's 150th birthday in 2017, over 98 percent of Canadian households will be able to subscribe to new or improved high-speed Internet services, delivering on the Harper Government's commitment to rural Canadians.

Quick facts

• This project by Seaside Wireless Communications will cover an estimated 14,000 households in rural parts of 10 counties throughout north-eastern Nova Scotia, from Cape Chignecto on the Bay of Fundy to Meat Cove on the northern tip of Cape Breton Island.
• Through Economic Action Plan 2014, the Government of Canada created the Connecting Canadians program, backed by a $305-million commitment to connect an additional 280,000 households in rural and remote regions of the country to high-speed Internet services at minimum speeds of 5 Mbps.
• The Government has exceeded its Economic Action Plan 2014 target by over 75,000 households in the first round of project approvals, bringing high-speed Internet access to more than 356,000 homes across Canada, and nearly 40 percent under budget.
• Last summer, the Government invited Canadians to provide feedback online to help better determine areas in need of high-speed Internet access. Once information was received, Industry Canada invited Internet service providers to submit proposals for funding under Connecting Canadians to build the wireless or wired infrastructure that will provide services to rural and remote communities in need.
• The first projects are expected to be completed by the time Canada celebrates the 150th anniversary of Confederation in 2017.
• Industry Canada received over 300 applications to the Connecting Canadians program from Internet service providers across Canada.
• Every province and territory across the country will benefit from the Connecting Canadians program. Announcements of individual projects will be made throughout the summer.

Quotes

"Our government understands that access to high-speed Internet is an essential component of business and day-to-day life for Nova Scotians. The funding announced today will ensure that 14,000 households and businesses receive expanded and improved high-speed Internet services, keeping businesses and jobs right here in our region."

- Scott Armstrong, Member of Parliament for Cumberland-Colchester-Musquodoboit Valley

"For most Canadians, access to affordable and reliable broadband networks is an important part of everyday life. Our government is committed to ensuring that Canadians in rural and remote regions of our country have the affordable broadband services they require to meet their everyday needs. Modernizing Canada's broadband infrastructure will benefit Canadians and contribute to the country's continued economic growth."

- Ed Holder, Minister of State (Science and Technology)

"Today's announcement marks the next important phase in our government's plan to bring the benefits of high-speed Internet to communities in rural and remote regions across the country. Providing Canadians with access to high-speed Internet for learning, business opportunities and so much more is key to creating a more connected, digital Canada."

- James Moore, Minister of Industry

"The Connecting Canadians program is great news not only for rural communities throughout Nova Scotia but also for our company. It will allow TruLeaf, as an agriculture technology company, to be more innovative and efficient as we deploy our farming systems globally and ultimately remain a viable business in rural Nova Scotia."

- Gregg Curwin, President and CEO, TruLeaf

"We are grateful to the Government of Canada for recognizing the critical importance of high-speed Internet for rural Canadians. This project will go a long way toward our company's goal of closing the gap between rural and urban Internet experience. It will make a big difference to our customers, for whom affordable high-speed Internet is an essential service, and will be yet another reason why it's great to live in rural Nova Scotia."

- Loran Tweedie, CEO, Seaside

Associated link

- Connecting Canadians website

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