Mr. Speaker, yesterday, our government announced a series of projects to receive conditional funding approval under the Broadband Canada: Connecting Rural Canadians program. These 52 projects, in nine provinces and territories across Canada, will bring broadband Internet access to an estimated 169,000 households.
As a result of this announcement, many individuals, families and businesses across Canada will soon have access to high-speed Internet service for the first time and therefore access to important economic and social benefits.
These measures will encourage economic development, spur innovation and improve the quality of life in hundreds of communities from coast to coast to coast.
The projects announced were selected in order to include as many households as possible that are currently unserved or underserved.
This announcement is just the beginning. Other announcements will follow until all available funds have been allocated.