Ontario government commits up to $63.7 million for rural residents to get better high-speed internet

Most people in rural areas across Canada have one unfortunate thing in common: slow internet. The Ontario government is hoping to change that for the people in Wellington County.

Infrastructure Minister, Monte McNaughton announced up to $63.7 million will be given to the Southwestern Integrated Fibre Technology (SWIFT), as part of the government’s commitment for people in rural areas to have access to faster internet.

“I’ve heard too many stories about parents sitting in fast-food restaurants or going to the local library to get Wi-Fi for their kids’ homework,” says McNaughton. “We want rural residents and businesses to be able to stream high-speed internet from their homes, farms and businesses. It’s time smaller communities across the province joined the digital economy.”

SWIFT is a not-for-profit corporation initiated by 15 local municipalities to address connectivity in the regions of Southwestern Ontario, Caledon, and the Niagara Region. Its projects are delivered with support from other levels of government.

The money is part of the government’s budget of giving $315 million to make sure communities across Ontario have access to high-speed internet and better cell phone service.

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