{"id":482,"date":"2020-06-11T14:57:26","date_gmt":"2020-06-11T18:57:26","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/willbouma.ca\/?p=482"},"modified":"2020-06-11T15:05:20","modified_gmt":"2020-06-11T19:05:20","slug":"delivering-high-speed-internet-to-more-people-in-southwestern-ontario","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/willbouma.ca\/delivering-high-speed-internet-to-more-people-in-southwestern-ontario\/","title":{"rendered":"Delivering High Speed Internet to More People in Southwestern Ontario"},"content":{"rendered":"\t\t
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Expanding Broadband Access in Brant County<\/span><\/h2>

June 11, 2020<\/p>

Today, Will Bouma, MPP for Brantford-Brant and Belinda Karahalios, MPP for Cambridge, on behalf of Ernie Hardeman, Minister of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs, announced a major step in the expanding of broadband internet in Brant County with the Request for Proposals (RFP) by Southwestern Integrated Fibre Technology (SWIFT) Inc. This program is part of the government\u2019s commitment to expanding access to broadband internet in rural areas and makes way for up to $4.8 million in broadband infrastructure expansion.<\/p>

\u201cI know first-hand about the challenges of internet connectivity in rural Ontario\u201d said Will Bouma, MPP Brantford-Brant. \u00a0\u201cI also know first hand Minister Hardeman\u2019s tireless advocacy for fair broadband availability for the smaller towns and municipalities, many of whom feed Ontario. \u00a0Our Community is looking forward to the faster, more reliable internet coverage\u201d.<\/p>

\u201cNow, more than ever, we see how important access to fast and reliable internet is for individuals, families, and businesses,\u201d said Belinda Karahalios, MPP for Cambridge. \u201cToday\u2019s announcement means a great deal for people in my riding and across Southwestern Ontario. Improved access to broadband is something I\u2019ve been advocating for quite some time, and I want to thank Minister Hardeman for his and the provincial government\u2019s commitment to bridging the gaps in access for our rural communities.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>

\u201cWithout a doubt, this is a difficult time for all Canadians. Access to services, opportunities to connect in isolation and telework depend on access to high speed internet. That\u2019s why our government\u2019s investments to date are connecting a million households in Canada. SWIFT is one of hundreds of our partner organizations that are working hard to connect Canadians. We are proud of partnerships like these that allow for this work to move ahead,\u201d said the Honourable Maryam Monsef, Minister of Women and Gender Equality and Rural Economic Development.<\/p>

\u201cAt a time when people have become more dependent than ever on broadband, having access to high-speed internet is critical,\u201d said Allan Thompson, SWIFT Board Member and the Chair of the Rural Ontario Municipal Association. \u201cSWIFT, together with our community leaders and local service providers, is committed to bringing Southwestern Ontario\u2019s underserviced communities online and high-speed internet access to thousands. Today, as result of our public-private partnerships, SWIFT is proud to announce that many more homes and businesses in Brant County will soon have greater access to reliable internet services.\u201d<\/p>

\u201cThis is truly a good news story for residents and business owners in the County of Brant,\u201d said Mayor David Bailey. \u00a0\u201cThe internet has expanded the way we connect as a society. \u00a0It can affect how we work, how we access news from around the world and how we connect with loved ones. \u00a0It has become an important aspect of life for many people. \u00a0Securing reliable broadband internet in the County of Brant will make a positive and significant impact on many people\u2019s lives. We look forward to working with our partners to ensure this implementation is a success.\u201d<\/p>

The RFP for Brant County<\/a> closes on October 30th. The contract will be awarded and service provider agreement put in place shortly after the RFP closes.<\/p>

The Ontario government recognizes how important rural broadband access is for individuals, families and businesses. Work continues toward bridging the gaps in broadband access in Southwestern Ontario, as part of a combined $190 million investment to bring fast, reliable internet to thousands of homes and businesses.\u00a0<\/p>

Creating more ways to strengthen rural economies is part of the government’s plan to build Ontario together. Reliable and affordable broadband internet will allow communities to attract new development, strengthen local economies and create more well-paying jobs and opportunities in rural Ontario.<\/p>

QUICK FACTS<\/strong><\/p>

As part of this investment, a Request for Proposals (RFP) for up to $4.8 million in broadband infrastructure was issued in Brant County.
SWIFT Inc. is a not-for-profit corporation initiated by the Western Ontario Wardens\u2019 Caucus to address connectivity in Southwestern Ontario that will support the critical expansion of broadband to underserved areas.\u00a0<\/p>

The Ontario government\u2019s Broadband and Cellular Action Plan is expected to generate up to $1 billion in total investment over five years, resulting in new connections for up to 220,000 homes and businesses. This will lead to community, social and economic benefits well beyond the provincial investment.<\/p>

ADDITIONAL RESOURCES<\/strong><\/p>

Up to Speed: Ontario\u2019s Broadband and Cellular Action Plan<\/a><\/p>

-30-<\/p>

For more information please contact MPP Will Bouma at 519-759-0361 or email at will.bouma@pc.ola.org<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Expanding Broadband Access in Brant County June 11, 2020 Today, Will Bouma, MPP for Brantford-Brant and Belinda Karahalios, MPP for Cambridge, on behalf of Ernie Hardeman, Minister of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs, announced a major step in the expanding of broadband internet in Brant County with the Request for Proposals (RFP) by Southwestern Integrated … Read more<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[2],"tags":[],"yoast_head":"\nDelivering High Speed Internet to More People in Southwestern Ontario - WillBouma.ca<\/title>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/willbouma.ca\/delivering-high-speed-internet-to-more-people-in-southwestern-ontario\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"Delivering High Speed Internet to More People in Southwestern Ontario\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"Expanding Broadband Access in Brant County June 11, 2020 Today, Will Bouma, MPP for Brantford-Brant and Belinda Karahalios, MPP for Cambridge, on behalf of Ernie Hardeman, Minister of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs, announced a major step in the expanding of broadband internet in Brant County with the Request for Proposals (RFP) by Southwestern Integrated ... 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