The governments of Canada and British Columbia announced Monday more than $77 million in combined federal and provincial funding for 15 projects to bring high-speed internet access to 6,993 households in over 100 rural and remote communities across B.C., including more than 1,200 Indigenous homes.
In addition, the Canadian government is separately investing $7 million in three projects that will provide 727 households in the communities of Spallumcheen (Splatsin First Nation) and Hullcar with access to high-speed internet and bring cellular connectivity to more than 120 kilometres of road in the communities of Tŝideldel First Nation and Skeetchestn Indian Band.
The funding recipients for these projects are CityWest Cable & Telephone Corp. and Telus Communications. CityWest is receiving a total of $5.09 million in combined federal and provincial funding for 11 projects that will serve more than 1,070 households. Telus is to receive a total of $79.5 million for seven projects, including the two mobile wireless projects, that will benefit more than 6,650 households.
The combined federal and provincial funding commitments for these projects are part of an existing $830-million agreement between the governments of Canada and B.C., which was announced in March 2022. The B.C. government’s contribution is coming via the Connecting Communities BC Program, while the federal government’s investment is being provided through the Universal Broadband Fund.
“Today’s announcement is a milestone for improved connectivity in more underserved communities across the province,” said Stefan Woloszyn, CEO of CityWest, in a federal government press release. “CityWest’s fibre-to-the-home projects will bring residents urban-class connectivity, creating equal opportunities for more rural, remote and Indigenous British Columbians. We would like to express our thanks to the Province of British Columbia and the federal government for their vision to ensure that these communities are able to unlock their connectivity destiny.”
“TELUS is proud to be a trusted partner to Canada’s federal and provincial governments for nation-building projects like this broadband and wireless expansion, reinforcing our long-standing commitment to making investments that strengthen communities,” said Jill Schnarr, chief communications and brand officer at Telus. “TELUS remains steadfast in our commitment to building Canada, having invested more than $276 billion since 2000, with billions more planned over the next five years. Our bold, future-focused approach continues to drive digital inclusion and create opportunities for Canadians in communities of all sizes.”
