Indigenous Services says broadband projects face stiff competition for funding

Multiple funds, lack of co-ordination, remains a strumbling block By Ahmad Hathout OTTAWA – Funding from Indigenous Services Canada for broadband on reserves has been limited because connectivity objectives often compete with other priority projects, such as energy, roads and bridges, according to the ministry. The federal government also hasn’t targeted funding to ISC’s First Nation Infrastructure Fund specifically for those broadband objectives in federal budgets 2016, 2018 or 2019, the ministry said in response to an order paper question from Conservative MP Cathy McLeod of Kamloops-Thompson-Cariboo. “While connectivity projects are eligible for funding from the First Nation Infrastructure Fund,...