STRATFORD – As part of the Ontario government’s plan to connect every community to high-speed internet by the end of 2025, more than 750 homes, farms and businesses in Perth and Wellington counties will gain access to fast, reliable broadband this year.
“I have always advocated for better service to rural Ontario. That’s why I am very pleased to announce that broadband will be extended to more rural and small communities here in Perth-Wellington,” said Randy Pettapiece, Member of Provincial Parliament for Perth-Wellington, and Parliamentary Assistant to the Minister of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs. “Hundreds of families and businesses will benefit from these expansion projects. That’s why I am pleased that our government is helping to build critical infrastructure needed to support communities in Perth and Wellington counties.”
Construction is beginning in Perth County to expand broadband infrastructure and connect more families and businesses to high-speed internet service. The governments of Canada and Ontario are each committing $727,000 to support construction of three new infrastructure networks that will connect more than 400 homes, farms and businesses in the communities of Mennonite Corner, Ratzburg, Hampstead, Lisbon, Slabtown, Bornholm, Willow Grove, and eastern Listowel, with access to high-speed internet by August 2022.
In Wellington County, a new $976,000 infrastructure network in the community of Eden Mills is now providing 350 homes, farms and businesses with access to high-speed internet service. The fibre-optic service expansion was supported by the governments of Canada and Ontario, each committing up to $267,000.
The completion of this project gives farms and businesses in Eden Mills the ability to attract new customers, grow their operations, create new jobs, and stay competitive in today’s digital marketplace.
“Access to reliable broadband infrastructure is critical to ensuring all Canadians have the ability to connect and prosper in today’s increasingly digital world,” said Tim Louis, Member of Parliament for Kitchener-Conestoga, on behalf of Dominic LeBlanc, Minister of Intergovernmental Affairs, Infrastructure and Communities. “This announcement will ensure that residents in Perth and Wellington counties have access to high-speed internet, allowing them to connect to work and school and to access essential services and programs online.”
“In partnership with the governments of Ontario and Canada, SWIFT is committed to expanding broadband infrastructure across Southwestern Ontario,” added Gary McNamara, SWIFT board chair. “Through the SWIFT program we are providing many more homes and businesses with access to reliable high-speed internet. With the completion of the new fibre-optic network in Wellington County and construction of broadband infrastructure now underway in Perth County, we are pleased to see new high-speed connections being made across our region as the program continues to make strong and steady progress throughout Southwestern Ontario.”
More than $255 million has been invested by the governments of Canada and Ontario and the private sector, to bring high-speed internet to more than 58,000 households and businesses in Southwestern Ontario through SWIFT.
