Federal, provincial and municipal politicians gathered at the Trillium Wood Golf Club in Thurlow Tuesday to celebrate the construction of the largest rural broadband network in Ontario. The high-speed Internet infrastructure project will connect with local delivery systems to expand services to an estimated one million residents and businesses.
Tuesday's announcement marked the culmination of five years of discussion, meetings and planning, something noted by federal minister Chuck Strahl.
"It's nice to be here for this announcement ... This is obviously a big issue," said Strahl, Canada's Minister of Transport and Infrastructure. "All levels of government understand the importance, in the 21st century, of high-speed Internet and this is perhaps even more true as a lot of the young folks will tell us 'If you want us to build businesses, if you want us to stay in the communities, we have to have access to the modern tools.'"
The network -- which will be constructed in phases over the next two years -- is being funded through both the provincial and federal governments with the Eastern Ontario Wardens' Caucus also providing money. Through the Building Canada Fund the governments of Ontario and Canada are providing two-thirds of the total cost to a maximum of $110 million. EOWC will contribute up to $10 million and Bell Aliant and Bell -- who have been contracted to build the infrastructure -- will contribute $27 million as well as in-kind services. Add to those dollar figures the future investments by local service providers and the project cost is approximately $170 million.
Carol Mitchell, Ontario's Minister of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs, echoed Strahl's comments referring to the announcement as "very important." She said it has taken time to prepare for the project but with construction ready to begin it will greatly improve life for rural residents.
"We're very proud to contribute up to $55 million in infrastructure funding for this very critical project," she said.
Prince Edward-Hastings MP Daryl Kramp called the announcement a "game changer." He said the "five-year crusade" means residents cannot only compete regionally, but globally.
"For business, large or small, home based or industry, for services such as e-health, online banking, for education from home work to research and for personal social networking, high-speed connectivity is no longer a luxury of the few but an absolute necessity for all our citizens," Kramp said.
Leona Dombrowsky, provincial minister of education and MPP for Prince Edward-Hastings, congratulated all partners in the project and noted, like other Building Canada developments, it is a prime example of what can happen when all levels of government come together.
"It is a significant event because it is a significant investment," Dombrowsky said.
Specifically, Dombrowsky said, the EOWC needs recognition for its efforts in making the project happen as it rallied its 13 member counties -- covering 50,000 square kilometres -- to define the project as its No. 1 priority.
"It was a plan worthy of consideration and investment," she said. "This is very good news for our people who live in our communities."
The construction of the network will occur in stages over the next two years. A schedule projecting when service is expected to be ready for service providers in each county and municipality will be available at the EOWC website -- www.eowc.org -- in the near future.
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Autor(en)/Author(s): W. Brice McVicar
Quelle/Source: The Intelligencer, 01.09.2010
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