Over 16,000 Households in New Brunswick Will Receive Enhanced Broadband Services

CAMPOBELLO ISLAND, NEW BRUNSWICK--(Marketwired - July 30, 2015) - Industry Canada

Everyday tasks that were once done in person, such as shopping, communicating, learning and banking, are now done online. To help Canadian communities, businesses and families have better access to these and many other online opportunities, John Williamson, Member of Parliament for New Brunswick Southwest, on behalf of the Honourable James Moore, Minister of Industry, today announced that the Government of Canada will provide Xplornet Communications Inc. with up to $2.92 million to connect over 16,000 homes in New Brunswick to faster Internet services.

MP Williamson highlighted the fact that over 4,000 households in the New Brunswick Southwest region, including the Fundy Isles, will benefit from the investment announced today. These broadband infrastructure projects are expected to be completed by the end of June 2017, delivering Internet download speeds at a minimum of five megabits per second (Mbps).

For all Canadians, the Internet is a tool that spurs economic growth, broadens opportunities, and connects friends and family from coast to coast to coast. 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, which helps deliver on the Government's commitment to rural Canadians.

Quick facts

• The households to be connected in the Fundy Isles region under today's announcement are in communities in and around Campobello Island, Deer Island and Grand Manan Island, as well as the communities of Saint Andrews, St. George and Blacks Harbour on the mainland.
• 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

"Today's announcement is another step toward our government's goal of bringing high-speed Internet to rural and remote communities across Canada. Access to high-speed Internet will ensure that all Canadians can unlock the tremendous economic potential of a digitally connected Canada."

- James Moore, Minister of Industry

"This announcement today is putting Canadian consumers first by making sure more families and businesses have access to faster, reliable Internet. This is a key promise our government is delivering on, and it will ensure more Canadians across New Brunswick can fully participate in our growing digital economy."

- John Williamson, Member of Parliament for New Brunswick Southwest

"We are thrilled to work alongside the Government of Canada toward our shared goal of getting Canada more connected by providing fast and affordable high-speed Internet services to rural Canadians. For communities on Campobello Island, Grand Manan Island and Deer Island, we will be able to accelerate the build of our fixed wireless broadband infrastructure so that residents can experience everything the Internet has to offer."

- Bill Macdonald, Vice President of Business Development, Xplornet Communications Inc.

Associated link

Connecting Canadians website

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