Federal government invests $38M to bring high speed internet to rural Manitoba

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Federal investments will bring high speed internet to more than a dozen remote and underserved communities in Manitoba for the first time, as they look to create a level playing field when it comes to internet access across the country.

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“Fairness for every generation means making sure everyone in Canada has access to reliable and affordable high-speed Internet, no matter where they live,” Minister of Northern Affairs Dan Vandal said in a Friday release.

On Friday, the feds announced they have earmarked $38 million to bring high speed internet to 14 rural and Indigenous communities in Manitoba.

“Every community in Canada deserves access to high-speed Internet. This announcement is another step our government is taking in delivering on its commitment to ensure every Manitoban has access,” Vandal said.

The funding will see high speed internet access brought to a total of 3,611 Manitoba households, including 3,135 Indigenous households, according to the feds, in communities including the Norway House Cree Nation, Cross Lake, and the Bloodvein River First Nation.

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“Better, more reliable connectivity means having easier access to important online resources, bridging the digital divide, accelerating economic development, and increasing safety for Indigenous communities,” the federal government said.

The money will come from the Universal Broadband Fund, a $3-billion federal initiative created, as the federal government aims to see every household in Canada have access to high speed internet by 2030, and 98% of Canadian households have access by 2026.

“The government acknowledges that Internet access is not a luxury. It is a necessity that allows Canadians to participate in the digital economy and to access online education, work, and medical and government services,” noted the federal government.

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The province is falling behind much of Canada when it comes to high speed internet access, as federal statistics show that while 94.8% of Canadian households have access to high-speed Internet, only 85.4% of Manitoba households currently have access.

The federal government says access to high speed internet could also make Manitoba communities safer, and give more options to those experiencing violence or abuse.

“Indigenous women, girls and Two-Spirit and gender-diverse people are more likely to go missing or be murdered than those who are non-Indigenous,” the federal government said.

“Better connectivity means more tools in moments of danger, helping victims of violence access critical online resources, and get help when they need it most.”

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According to the federal government, by 2026, 95% of Manitoba households are projected to be connected to high-speed Internet, and since 2015, the Government of Canada has invested more than $257 million into connectivity projects in Manitoba.

Over 800 Indigenous households have gained access to high-speed Internet in Manitoba thanks to projects funded by the Universal Broadband Fund, the feds added.

The federal government’s minimum high-speed Internet connectivity target for all Canadians is 50/10 Mbps (50 megabits per second for downloads, and 10 megabits per second for uploads).

According to an Auditor General’s Report, in 2021 approximately 90% of Canadian households had access to “minimum connection speeds” across Canada. Only 42% of households on First Nations reserves and approximately 59% of households in “rural and remote areas” had access to the internet at those same speeds.

— Dave Baxter is a Local Journalism Initiative reporter who works out of the Winnipeg Sun. The Local Journalism Initiative is funded by the Government of Canada.

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