QUÉBEC CITY — The Québec and federal governments made a joint funding announcement on Thursday to provide maximum financial assistance of $26.5 million for Tamaani, Nunavik’s telecommunications service project. The funding will allow for the maintenance of satellite-based Internet service in Nunavik communities and businesses until fibre optic service is installed in the territory.
The joint announcement was made by Pierre Arcand, Québec’s Minister of Energy and Natural Resources, Minister responsible for the Plan Nord, and Minster responsible for the Côte-Nord region, along with the Honourable Denis Lebel, Minister of the Economic Development Agency of Canada for the Regions of Québec. The Québec and federal governments are granting $15 million and $11.5 million, respectively, to the $35.5-million project. The funds provided by the two governments will be mainly earmarked for renewing the satellite link contract for five years.
The Tamaani telecom service, launched in 2004 by the Kativik Regional Government, provides satellite Internet service to communities and businesses in Nunavik. The funding will also allow for the replacement of the local wireless distribution network and ensure the establishment of a local fibre optic network in the region’s four biggest Inuit communities, Kuujjuaq, Puvirnituq, Inukjuak and Salluit. The Kativik Regional Government is contributing $9 million to the project.
Québec’s portion of the funding is being made available as part of the province’s Plan Nord initiative to develop the economic and social potential of Québec’s northern region.
“This project falls within the scope of the action priorities of the Plan Nord toward 2035, which consists in enhancing telecommunications infrastructure in the territory that the Plan Nord covers for the benefit of local and Aboriginal communities. I am proud that our government is supporting such a project, which is essential to all facets of economic and social development,” Minister Arcand said in a press release.
“Access to digital technologies is essential to ensure the safety and well-being of northern populations. Health and education services and services provided by businesses are but some examples that confirm the importance of relying on such infrastructure. It is crucial for the region to possess reliable, efficient telecommunications technologies to ensure service in communities and for businesses in Northern Québec,” Minister Arcand noted.
