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Thunder Bay, Ontario, July 9, 2010 — The Honourable Vic Toews, Canada’s Public Safety Minister, today announced that three projects in Ontario have been conditionally approved for funding through the Broadband Canada: Connecting Rural Canadians program. These projects will bring broadband Internet access to an estimated 4 000 households in the province.

“This government’s commitment to bringing broadband internet to rural Canadians will mean new opportunities for Northern Ontario, including citizens of Thunder Bay.  Today I am pleased to announce that three projects in Northern Ontario will be among those receiving federal support,” said Minister Toews. “These latest projects, together with those announced in May, mean that these households will soon be online at modern, multimedia-capable speeds.”


Canada’s Economic Action Plan provided $225 million for the development and implementation of a strategy to extend broadband coverage. By far the biggest component of this strategy is Broadband Canada: Connecting Rural Canadians, an initiative that targets Canadians living in unserved and underserved areas. This is the second funding announcement under Broadband Canada; others will follow until all available funds have been allocated.


“These investments will significantly enhance the quality of life for thousands of residents and open the door to new businesses and public services,” said Michael Gravelle, Ontario Minister of Northern Development, Mines and Forestry and Chair of the Northern Ontario Heritage Fund Corporation (NOHFC). “I look forward to announcing more specific details of our funding partnership in the near future.”


For the individuals, families and businesses in Ontario that will soon have access to broadband Internet, important economic and social benefits, including telehealth, business opportunities and distance learning, will become available. More broadly, broadband Internet access will encourage economic development, spur innovation and improve the quality of life in hundreds of communities across the province.