Thank you, Pam.
The connecting Canadians program was launched in 2014 to enhance broadband in rural areas and the north.
That program, which targets last-mile networks, has a goal to reach 280,000 households in Canada. That said, we expect to reach about 300,000 households.
The north, specifically Nunavut and Nunavik, is a separate component, as they are entirely dependent on satellite for all their communications. Back then, time was of the essence, as the satellite leases were set to expire in 2016. Today, there are 86 connecting Canadians projects under way. There are projects in every province and territory. There are 12 that are now completed, and many more will end by March 2018. All projects will finish by March 2019, when the program ends.
As an example, for the Internet company goZoom, in Renfrew County, Ontario, the connecting Canadians program allowed them to put in three new wireless towers and increase services to households. It also enabled a local sawmill in Renfrew to do real-time monitoring of its operations.
The connect to innovate program, which was launched on December 15, 2016, will invest up to $500 million by 2021 to provide reliable high-speed Internet services to Canada's rural and remote communities.
This program is focused on new backbone infrastructure and will also connect institutions such as schools, hospitals, first nations band offices, and others. As well, and as a result of our consultations, upgrades, resiliency, and last-mile infrastructure are eligible.
In designing the program, we conducted extensive consultations over the spring, summer, and fall of 2016. This included all provincial and territorial governments. It included private sector service providers, municipal organizations, and first nations organizations. We spoke to some mayors and councillors, other departments, and industry associations. We also held several information sessions with MPs, some of whom are in this room, as well as with the digital caucus and the rural caucus.
The application period closed on April 20, and we had an unprecedented, incredible demand of close to 900 applications to the program, requesting over $4.4 billion. These are from coast to coast to coast. Applications are currently being reviewed, and we expect that the minister will select projects by the end of the summer.
I'll turn it back to Pam.