High-speed internet expands in Elgin County with $1.7M boost

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High speed internet expands in Elgin County with 17M boost

Ottawa and Queen’s Park are spending more than $1.7 million to expand high-speed internet access in Elgin County.

Author of the article:

Calvi-Leon • Local Journalism Initiative Reporter

Rob Flack (File photo)
Rob Flack (File photo)

Ottawa and Queen’s Park are spending more than $1.7 million to expand high-speed internet access in Elgin County.

Rob Flack, MPP for Elgin-Middlesex-London and parliamentary assistant to the minister of agriculture, food and rural affairs, announced on Friday the money to build broadband infrastructure that will connect more than 1,100 homes, farms and businesses to high-speed internet.

“Think about a number of decades ago when we didn’t have hydro. This is basically, in today’s modern age, the very same thing.” Flack said in an interview.

“Connecting people with high-speed internet in parts of Ontario that can’t get it is vital in today’s day and age. It’s vitally important not only to the well-being of residents in rural Ontario but to businesses, farmers and municipalities alike.”

The federal and provincial governments, along with Southwestern Integrated Fiber Technology (SWIFT) Inc., will allocate $616,000 for infrastructure to boost internet service access to 740 homes, farms and businesses in Tyrconnell, Duttona Beach, New Glasgow, Port Glasgow and Churchville this fall .

  1. None

    $7.5M project to boost high-speed internet in Middlesex County


  2. Three more SWIFT projects now underway in Grey-Bruce

The remaining $1.1 million will do the same for 390 homes, farms and businesses in Iona, Iona Station, Lawrence Station and Southwold by December.

“We’re making headway, but there is a lot of work that has to be done,” West Elgin Mayor Duncan McPhail said of bringing high-speed internet access to residents across the region.

“And thank God we have the federal and provincial governments that are recognizing the need and are working towards funding this because it’s way past the municipalities to be able to fund these types of projects,” he said.

Friday’s announcement is part of the province’s plan to deliver internet connectivity to every community by 2025.

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The Local Journalism Initiative is funded by the Government of Canadahas



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