The federal government on Monday announced more than $8.3 million in funding for two high-speed internet access projects that will benefit up to 822 households in five indigenous and remote communities in Ontario.
According to a government backgrounder, Broadband North Inc. is to receive $7.32 million from the Universal Broadband Fund (UBF) to build a fibre broadband network to serve up to 621 households in two Beausoleil First Nation communities on Christian Island, located in Georgian Bay. The project is expected to be completed in December 2026.
Avetria Networks Inc. is receiving $1 million in UBF funding for a fibre network project to serve up to 201 households in Conestogo, Winterbourne and West Montrose, located in the Region of Waterloo. The project was completed in October 2023, according to the backgrounder.
“In rural Ontario, having dependable sources of high-speed Internet makes it possible to access virtual health care, run a business online and stay in touch with loved ones. That’s why our government has committed to providing high-speed access to 100% of Canadian households by 2030,” Pauline Rochefort, parliamentary secretary to the secretary of state for rural development, Buckley Belanger, said in a statement.
“Today’s investment represents a major milestone for connectivity in our province and will help thousands more households in rural, remote and Indigenous communities access the opportunities that come with reliable and affordable high-speed Internet,” added Rochefort, who is the member of Parliament for the riding of Nipissing-Timiskaming, Ontario.
According to the federal government, as of July 2026, more than 96 per cent of Ontario households have access to high-speed internet, which the government defines as offering at least 50 Mbps download and 10 Mbps upload speeds.
The government said in a Monday press release that it remains on track to meet its goal of providing high-speed internet access to 98 per cent of Canadian households by the end of 2026, and 100 per cent by 2030.
