Ontario Taking Action to Expand Access to Reliable Broadband

New legislation would help lay the foundation for community growth, renewal, and long-term economic recovery

MISSISSAUGA – The Ontario government is introducing the Supporting Broadband and Infrastructure Expansion Act, 2021, which, if passed, would help connect more communities across Ontario to reliable, high-speed internet sooner. This legislation proposes to reduce costs to broadband providers associated with attaching broadband wirelines to hydro utility poles and would provide timely access to poles and to municipal rights of way to install broadband on municipal land.

“We are helping to build better infrastructure faster and strengthening communities across Ontario, while laying down the foundation for future growth, renewal and long-term economic recovery,” said Rudy Cuzzetto, MPP for Mississauga-Lakeshore. “Our proposed legislation, if passed, would help connect individuals and families to reliable broadband across our community, and get more people back to work as the province recovers from the COVID-19 pandemic.”

As many as 700,000 households and businesses in Ontario lack access to adequate broadband speeds or have no internet connection at all. These proposed measures would help communities connect to reliable broadband sooner, so people can work from home, learn online, connect with family and friends, and access vital services.

“Now more than ever, we need to help ensure unserved and underserved communities are connected to reliable broadband,” said Laurie Scott, Minister of Infrastructure. “By taking this step, our government is proposing to speed up Ontario’s broadband expansion, increasing our competitiveness, strengthening communities, and making life more convenient for families and individuals. The Supporting Broadband and Infrastructure Expansion Act would get our infrastructure working better for Ontario.”

These proposed measures build on the province’s Up to Speed: Ontario’s Broadband and Cellular Action Plan. On November 4, 2020, the Ontario government announced a historic investment of almost $1 billion to improve broadband and cellular services, which is an additional $680 million on top of its previous commitment.

“All Ontarians deserve access to reliable high-speed broadband and equal opportunity to engage in our ever-growing digital economy and lifestyle," said Greg Rickford, Minister of Energy, Northern Development and Mines. “By reducing barriers and costs for internet providers to use existing electricity infrastructure, we are creating a path forward to deliver cost-effective and timely broadband service to communities across our vast province."

Quick Facts

• Internet and telecommunications service providers based in Ontario face the highest hydro utility pole attachment rates in Canada.
• This legislation builds on the Ontario Rebuilding and Recovery Act and the Building Transit Faster Act to help accelerate the building of key infrastructure projects to create jobs and lay the foundation for a strong economic recovery.
• Last year, the Province launched the Improving Connectivity for Ontario (ICON) program, a multi-year program that aims to support approved broadband and cellular projects as early as Spring 2021. Ontario announced in November 2020 it was doubling funding in the program to $300 million.
• The Province has invested in initiatives to improve connectivity across Eastern and Southwestern Ontario. It has also invested in broadband projects through the Northern Ontario Heritage Fund Corporation and the Next Generation Network Program.
• Expanding access to broadband is part of Ontario Onwards: Ontario’s COVID-19 Action Plan for a People-Focused Government, which includes more than 30 projects that will change the way people and businesses interact with government.

Additional Resources

• Connecting Ontario: Learn how Ontario is helping to improve connectivity across the province
• Up to Speed: Ontario’s Broadband and Cellular Action Plan
• Ontario Builds map

Contact

Office of Rudy Cuzzetto, MPP
Mississauga-Lakeshore
(905) 274-8228

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