Madam Speaker, in my riding, many constituents are not able to get Internet service and for those who have Internet, some cannot afford it. Internet is not a luxury; it is an essential service for everyday life.
My riding has a population density of 1.3 people per square kilometre. In such a rural riding, there are many remote households. Those fortunate enough to have high-speed connections in cities do not realize how Internet is an integral part of everyday life.
I am hearing from parents in Rocky Mountain House with children in school, saying they cannot afford the cost of Internet, and seniors in Grande Cache, trying to stay connected but being let down by the reliability and cost.
A recent report showed that Canada ranked 146 out of 155 countries in terms of highest Internet costs.
I urge the government to make Internet more accessible, reliable and affordable for all Canadians.