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By Veronica Beltran

connecting B.C.

$90 million investment into connectivity infrastructure across B.C.

Sep 22, 2020 | 5:00 AM

VICTORIA—The Province is investing $90 million in connectivity to encourage a rapid expansion of high-speed internet access and drive regional economic development in rural areas, Indigenous communities, and along B.C.’s highways.

The one-time $90 million investment is part of B.C.’s Economic Recovery Plan for the Connecting British Columbia program and will target connectivity infrastructure projects for a new Economic Recovery Intake.

“Rural and Indigenous communities are an essential part of the province’s economic engine. Now is the time to invest in modern infrastructure so people living outside the city can also benefit from today’s technologies.”—Anne Kang, Minister of Citizens’ Services

“Ensuring people have the connectivity they need to be successful is a key part of our recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic. This investment will bring real and lasting benefits to families, workplaces and communities throughout B.C., ensuring the province emerges stronger than ever,” adds Kang.

Work completed as part of this funding is expected to bring or improve connectivity in 200 communities, including 75 Indigenous communities, and benefit up to 50,000 households. The funding is also expected to create more than 720 province-wide jobs.

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Projects supported through this funding will include technologies such as fibre, satellite and Wi-Fi to deliver a broader range of connectivity benefits to more British Columbians. It will also fund an additional 140 kilometres of highway cellular and Wi-Fi at rest stops, which could include inland ferry terminals and emergency satellite call boxes.

The Province says this next phase of the program to be administered by Northern Development Initiative Trust, which manages the Connecting British Columbia program. Applications will begin being accepted in Oct. 2020.