The people of Canada absolutely require constant and uninterruptible access to high-speed Internet. It facilitates communication between loved ones, aids in professional and educational pursuits, and links businesses in Canada to clients in other parts of the world. Good, middle-class jobs and an economy that works for all Canadians can be fostered by expanding access to high-speed Internet across the country, especially in rural, remote, and Indigenous communities. The majority of rural and remote areas in Canada have historically had difficulty gaining access to reliable high-speed internet. Prime Minister Justin Trudeau announced a $475 million increase to the Universal Broadband Fund in November 2022. We plan to eventually bring high-speed Internet to every community in every province and territory in Canada. This extra funding will allow us to connect 60,000 homes in rural areas.   The CRTC reports that 87.4% of Canadians have broadband internet access as of right now. The percentage rises to 99.2 percent when considering only urban residents. That's in stark contrast to the 45.6% found in rural areas and the 34.8% in First Nations reserves. The Canadian government has previously announced that an additional 900,000 residents will have access to high-speed Internet, with more updates to come; we are thus on track to provide access to high-speed Internet to 98% of Canadians by 2026. While the cost of living in Canada continues to rise owing to global inflation, the Connecting Families project will continue to provide high-speed Internet to individuals in need for $10 or $20 per month through partnerships with service providers. Recently, this program's eligibility requirements were relaxed to allow seniors receiving the maximum Guaranteed Income Supplement (GIS) to participate. Previously, this program only applied to families receiving the maximum Canada Child Benefit (CCB) (GIS). Many low-income families and seniors are connecting to affordable high-speed Internet thanks to this government-led partnership.  

The Fourth Industrial Revolution and Rural Connectivity 

The gap between the rural and urban populations have always been there. However, there is a significant gap between the millions of Canadians who still lack consistent internet access and those who do. Canada's digital divide has taken on new significance with the advent of "Industry 4.0," the fourth industrial revolution, which is dependent on network connectivity across various sectors. Adoption and progress in crucial, largely rural sectors like agriculture, energy, mining, oil, and gas will depend on improving connectivity in those areas. Multiple 5G projects, including a $400 million partnership with Ontario and Quebec, were announced by the federal government last year. It is critical to invest in infrastructure so that these robust networks can reach out to rural and outlying areas of Canada. A new plan to invest $54 billion to expand Telus Agriculture's 5G networks was unveiled in May to bring 5G service to 529 other urban and rural communities and enhance smart farming by the end of 2022. To ensure that all Canadians, regardless of where they reside, have high-speed Internet as soon as possible, the federal government will continue collaborating with all provinces and territories, rural municipalities, various Indigenous communities, and Internet service providers.