The province is pledging $200 million to help municipalities with local infrastructure projects.
That was one of the investments announced at this week’s virtual Rural Ontario Municipal Association Conference.
The Minister of Municipal Affairs and Housing, Steve Clark, says a lot of municipalities voiced support for the government’s plan to increase broadband and cellular access.
He adds that $40 million is also going to be spent on the Municipal Modernization Program. $5 million in support was pledged for Agricultural and Horticultural Societies.
Halton Region leaders, including Milton Mayor Gordon Krantz and Milton MP Adam van Koeverden, recently joined together in support of more than ten proposals submitted to date to the Federal Government’s $1.75 billion national Universal Broadband Fund (UBF). The applications offer support in their efforts to provide residents in parts of rural Halton with access to more reliable and affordable broadband internet service.
Halton Regional Chair Gary Carr says the pandemic really showed us how important internet and cellular service are in our lives.
“The COVID-19 pandemic has required us to connect with each other differently and access to reliable broadband internet in our underserved communities is more critical than ever. We ask the Federal Government to support these proposals as part of the UBF program so that the broadband needs of our rural residents and businesses are met, allowing them to stay connected in their daily lives, both personally and professionally.”
Mayor Krantz agrees with Chair Carr, saying that Milton supports these applications in order to bring better service to the residents of our town.
MP van Koeverden offered a statement in a release, saying that rural Milton has really struggled over this last year.
“We have seen throughout the COVID-19 pandemic how vital the internet is for daily living, including for those living in rural areas of Milton and Halton. Universal connectivity is essential to ensure that every Canadian is able to participate in the economy and our society. Whether it’s connecting small businesses, families or students, each and every Canadian deserves access to affordable, reliable high-speed internet, and that’s precisely what we will achieve with the Universal Broadband Fund.”
