Status of Women Committee on Feb. 23rd, 2021

[Melissa O'Brien]

I think about offering training to empower women and girls to use technology and make the most of the digital opportunities that are available.

I think about smaller communities that maybe didn't have access to high-speed Internet now getting access to high-speed Internet. How can they participate, create and innovate while these opportunities are becoming available to them?

I think of senior women who maybe now are becoming more online and are not aware of the services, apps or how to utilize those technologies, whether it's to create a network, a community of their own, or to leverage different apps that maybe are health apps. Maybe it's about having additional training available and making them aware that this is an option.

I think of e-commerce, of their starting their own online businesses. We talk about a gig economy. Freelancing is a big opportunity, especially for women who may be parents or taking care of elderly citizens. We go back to the fact that a lot of part-time work is happening. It's having those e-commerce opportunities and understanding, first, that they're available and, second, how they can be utilized to have more women's economic activity happening.

Technology is a key and a solution to that, but training is a big aspect to empowering them, to making them even aware of what's available to them.

[Adrienne Ivey]

I want to add to that because this is something I'm very passionate about. I see a huge disconnect between the youth in rural communities and the youth of urban communities. While educating women is incredibly important when it comes to the digital world, things are changing so quickly that it's hard for education to keep up with what is happening online.

I see a disconnect among rural children, who don't have access to anything online, like simple YouTube videos. They don't have the same comfort level of getting on a computer, tablet or phone and being able to figure it out as they go, something most urban kids seem born with these days. In reality, it's just the comfort level from being immersed in it from day one. We would eliminate a lot of these large gaps in knowledge if we had accessibility and a certain comfort level across the board.

[Nelly Shin, Conservative, Port Moody—Coquitlam, BC]

Thank you so much.

The next question is for Gail and Pamela, who spoke of homes that are being broken into by thieves, leaving families traumatized with fear and a changed perspective on life.

What kind of support are these traumatized families receiving and is there social infrastructure in your communities that families can access to receive support?

[Gail Kehler]

In our area there has been no support at all, except for us talking about keeping our eyes open for each other. I had no support at all when we were broken into.

[Nelly Shin, Conservative, Port Moody—Coquitlam, BC]

In that sense, then, there are no counselling services available locally. Would there be online access that your community is aware of?

[Gail Kehler]

I assume there would be, but I haven't researched it. I don't know of any personally.

[Nelly Shin, Conservative, Port Moody—Coquitlam, BC]

This is for any of the women on the panel. Have the lockdowns caused the social services that are available to close down completely? Have they been able to convert and go online, especially with the Internet connectivity being very poor? These are some concerns that I have, if anyone wants to speak to them.

[The Chair, Conservative, Marilyn Gladu]

Unfortunately, that's it for your time.

We'll go now to Ms. Zahid for five minutes.

[Salma Zahid, Liberal, Scarborough Centre, ON]

Thank you, Madam Chair. Mr. Serré will be taking my time.

[The Chair, Conservative, Marilyn Gladu]

That's wonderful.

Monsieur Serré.

[Marc Serré, Liberal, Nickel Belt, ON]

Thank you, Madam Chair.

Ms. Zahid, thank you for giving me your speaking time.

Thank you, as well, to the witnesses for being here today.

We agree with you wholeheartedly, of course. We understand what you're going through, especially the problems with the Internet, but also the crime. Being from northern Ontario, I haven't had the same experience as you have, in Saskatchewan, when it comes to crime, so I'd like to know more about that.

My first question is for Melissa. I'm looking at your website, and you indicated you received $210 million. About $63 million came from the federal government and $63 million came from the province. I want to make sure I understand that you have received $63 million from the federal government. I want to clarify that point and then I'll ask another question.

[Melissa O'Brien]

SWIFT is funded under the new building Canada fund's small communities fund. It is a joint federal and provincial infrastructure funding program. Both the province and the federal government have contributed $63.7 million.

[Marc Serré, Liberal, Nickel Belt, ON]

That's wonderful. That's an example of partnership, when we look at SWIFT, municipalities, the provincial government and the federal government. Connecting Canadians in 2013-14 had $250 million. Connect to innovate in 2016-17 had $500 million. Now, in the 2019 budget, the federal government set aside the largest investment of Internet funding from the federal government, close to $1.7 billion. It leverages the work of the provinces, municipalities and, we have to remember, the private sector. You're right.

I was part of the wardens caucus when I worked with Eastlink or Bluewater Cable in that area. I completely understand.

I just want to commend SWIFT for the work that you've done to gather that partnership together. Maybe this is useful to the committee here for making recommendations to the federal government.

What would you say is the success of SWIFT, and how can you look at expanding the SWIFT model with municipalities? You have three or four large cities: London, Waterloo and Windsor. In northern Ontario we had this funded through FedNor. When we look at Blue Sky and NEOnet, they're working with the private sector.

What recommendations do you have for other provinces to do what you've done?

[Melissa O'Brien]

I think you mentioned one of the major ones. It's the collaboration between all levels of government. It really allowed us to leverage the contribution agreements.

The second one I would say was the business model and the competitive nature of our procurement. We had an expectation when we set out that the ISPs—Internet service providers—would contribute roughly about $3.7 million. Due to the competitive nature of the RFP process, we've seen them come in with more than the required amount.

It's a cost-sharing program. It's one-third federal, one-third provincial and then one-third ISPs. The ISPs have been coming in higher with their bids to try to secure that funding, and I think that's been very much key. Again, going back to the collaboration between all levels of government, it has really helped the program to be successful.

[Marc Serré, Liberal, Nickel Belt, ON]

Yes, that's why by putting federal leadership with the largest funding in history...then the Province of Ontario followed through with $150 million to rural areas. Hopefully other provinces will do the same to leverage those funds.

The other aspect is that SWIFT works closely with mayors and councils. As an MP, as soon as the budget came out in 2019, I talked to every ISP in my area. The big telecoms haven't been very supportive, let's say, of rural areas. The key is to talk to the local ISPs in the private sector and talk to the mayors and councillors so that we can push to get that. If you don't apply, it's very difficult.

I want to thank SWIFT too for the feedback you've provided to the small ISPs about the universal broadband fund. We've made a lot of the changes with connect to innovate, connecting Canadians and now the universal broadband. There have been a lot of good changes. We got answers for the rapid response funding—which is unheard of—in 60 days and 32 days from some of the smaller providers to do Internet by 2021.

I want to make sure SWIFT continues its advocacy and pushes other municipalities to do the same.

Thank you.

[The Chair, Conservative, Marilyn Gladu]

That's your time.

Now two and a half minutes go to Madame Larouche.

[Andréanne Larouche, Bloc, Shefford, QC]

Thank you, Madam Chair.

Thank you to our witnesses today. All four of you have substantiated and clarified some of the realities women in rural areas face.

I want to shift the focus back to elderly women for a moment. They're being told to use the Internet to connect and stay in touch with friends and family. We need to take a hard look at what Internet service is costing them. To make ends meet, they shouldn't have to choose between buying groceries or paying their Internet bill to stay in touch with their family. Bringing down the cost of Internet service is something we really need to keep an eye on.

My next question is for whoever would like to answer.

On the Standing Committee on the Status of Women, we talk about an economic she-covery and the importance of ensuring women in rural areas have the same opportunities as women in urban areas. That means connectivity, yes, but also transportation.

How could the government invest more in transportation infrastructure for rural communities, not just urban areas? Do you have other suggestions to help women access more business opportunities?

Would anyone like to comment on the importance of doing more to help women start businesses, or the continuing gap between the opportunities available to women in urban areas and those available to women in rural communities?

[Melissa O'Brien]

I can say a few words on that.

My focus is clearly on connectivity and having that access. When I think of senior women and having that support system, part of that is connectivity, especially after COVID.

With that being said, a potential recommendation could be for the federal government to have grants specifically targeting female entrepreneurs who are looking to start online businesses or personal businesses. That would be one recommendation that I could make that would specifically target women getting back to work after COVID. We know that women typically have been working in sectors that have been negatively impacted by COVID, such as hospitality or retail. We've discussed today women working part time. They take on more home responsibilities and, therefore, may take a step back but are still looking for potential employment opportunities online and having that connectability is key to this.

There may be potential for grants that focus specifically on women to provide them with these opportunities and to make them aware that these opportunities exist.

[The Chair, Conservative, Marilyn Gladu]

Now we'll go to Ms. Mathyssen for two and half minutes.

[Lindsay Mathyssen, NDP, London—Fanshawe, ON]

Thank you.

Ms. O'Brien, under the SWIFT 1.0 plan, you have 23% coverage so far with the help of the federal government with $62 million.

You're asking for an additional $313 million for SWIFT 2.0. Is that correct?

[Melissa O'Brien]

I don't have the numbers offhand, but I know that, in partnership with the Western Ontario Wardens Caucus, they are looking for direct funding to support a SWIFT 2.O project. They are seeking a funding commitment from both the province and the federal government. Again, it would be that layering effect that allows us to really leverage the contributions that are available.

[Lindsay Mathyssen, NDP, London—Fanshawe, ON]

I also kind of wanted to hear.... You had Denise Stonefish on the council and also a few women. I think of Mayor Joanne Vanderheyden, as an example.

What did you hear specifically from them in terms of their unique perspectives and how they saw things in terms of going forward with SWIFT 1.0 and 2.0?

I also kind of wanted to hear about the role of co-ops, the co-ops that played an important role in SWIFT programming. I don't know if you can fit that all in.

[Melissa O'Brien]

Okay. I will try to get it all in.

Chief Stonefish is on our board. She as well as Joanne, have been very supportive in moving forward. Unanimously, the SWIFT board is in agreement as well as the Western Ontario Wardens Caucus to seek additional funding. That aspect is there.

Chief Stonefish and Delaware Nation had a very unique project there. It was a pilot project with TekSavvy that has been very successful.

If I want to speak a little bit about the co-ops, too. They play an important role, especially in Oxford County. We had a co-op go in there, and we awarded a project that was serving premises that were about four premises per kilometre—some pretty rural areas.

[Lindsay Mathyssen, NDP, London—Fanshawe, ON]

Co-ops come in when the bigger providers won't touch it. Is that right?

[Melissa O'Brien]

I think we've had involvement from all levels. We've had involvement from some of the larger ISPs, the middle and the smaller. I think that's what makes SWIFT so successful. Again, each ISP has a role a play. We are seeing that through this business model. It has been successful in terms of delivering that and creating that competition in southwestern Ontario.

We've had a lot of smaller players now moving throughout the region, who may not have had that opportunity before. It's kind of creating a little bit more competition in that market space.