Evidence of meeting #166 for Industry, Science and Technology in the 42nd Parliament, 1st Session. (The original version is on Parliament’s site, as are the minutes.) The winning word was internet.
A recording is available from Parliament.
Conservative
Dan Albas Conservative Central Okanagan—Similkameen—Nicola, BC
I've seen the same issue when it comes to Montreal. If you look at the amount of space, it incorporates a number of small outlying communities, and not just Montreal itself. This is something that's present right across the country.
Executive Vice-President, General Counsel, Xplornet Communications Inc.
Absolutely. It's a huge issue in the greater Toronto area.
Liberal
Liberal
William Amos Liberal Pontiac, QC
Thank you, Mr. Chairman.
I thank the committee for this opportunity. I also thank the witnesses for their participation.
For my part, I would like to focus the discussion with Mr. Nepton on the role of our municipalities in the development of wireless cellular coverage. When I talk to the mayors—and there are more than 40 in the Pontiac riding—the feeling expressed is one of lack of control and frustration with the network and the relationships with the companies, which are not necessarily there to involve our municipalities directly and closely. If they do so, it is rather because it is in their own interest and not in the public interest.
In your opinion, how can we best involve our municipalities in the decision-making process regarding wireless telecommunications, first, and broadband Internet service, secondly?
Coordinator, Agence interrégionale de développement des technologies de l'information et des communications
AIDE-TIC works directly with mayors, RCMs, governments and the departments involved. We always approach the issue in the same way.
For example, when we meet a group of mayors from the same RCM to discuss the construction of cell sites, we ask them which ones to prioritize in order to serve the population, for safety reasons or to provide adequate coverage to tourists, the latter being a concern that recurs on a regular basis.
Once we have established contact with the mayors, they take responsibility and become aware that the priorities also determine the development periods. We also make it clear to them that this site development project is often the beginning of regional coverage. In this context, I would say that these groups of mayors are systematically aware of the most pressing local concerns and therefore want to prioritize them.
On the other hand, current programs generally require that any development project be endorsed by a municipal resolution. No mayor will refuse this resolution to a company if it wishes to improve its network. However, previous programs always talked about the Internet, but never about cell phones. Allowing a company to offer Internet access at a download speed of five megabits per second therefore prevented the development of any other technology in the territory.
Because we work closely with the Fédération québécoise des municipalités, we see that mayors—particularly in Quebec—now want to be involved in setting these priorities. Again, if the decision were left to large companies, these priorities would depend on the size of the population and the number of vehicles passing through. We must therefore remember local concerns and involve our mayors, since they are accountable and want to establish their local priorities.
Liberal
William Amos Liberal Pontiac, QC
Does this also apply to municipalities in western Quebec and the Outaouais?
Coordinator, Agence interrégionale de développement des technologies de l'information et des communications
We are starting to work a little more on the western Quebec side; we operate on demand.
You will understand that AIDE-TIC is not the watchdog for the interests of the major carriers. If one of these companies approaches us, it is because the site they want to develop is profitable. We will therefore not intervene, and the company will develop this site itself if it decides to do so. It is the environment that takes care of it.
We have projects in James Bay, the Lower St. Lawrence and the Laurentians, but we have not yet been approached in the Outaouais.
Liberal
William Amos Liberal Pontiac, QC
I have one last question in the 40 seconds I have left.
I am particularly interested in how, in our government's future programs, we could better support our municipalities and allow them to participate in this process. For example, should we consider providing them with the services of engineers or specialists to save them these costs?
Coordinator, Agence interrégionale de développement des technologies de l'information et des communications
Under the current model we have developed, municipalities give us the mandate to build telecommunications towers, offer them to major carriers and manage them on their behalf. We have proven that our installation costs are much lower than those of these companies. So that's the kind of support we could also provide to municipalities.
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Dan Ruimy
Thank you very much.
Unfortunately, I hear bells for a vote. Can we get unanimous consent to stay 10 minutes further to finish off?
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Dan Ruimy
No? Well, on that note, I'd like to thank all of our witnesses for being here today. Unfortunately, we are being cut off because we're being called to the House for a vote.
Thank you very much. We look forward to seeing the end result of our study.
The meeting is adjourned.