Halton Regional Chair Gary Carr, Mayor Marianne Meed Ward (City of Burlington), Mayor Rick Bonnette (Town of Halton Hills), Mayor Gord Krantz (Town of Milton), Mayor Rob Burton (Town of Oakville) and Member of Parliament for Milton, Adam van Koeverden, are joining together in support of more than ten proposals submitted to date to the Federal Government’s $1.75 billion national Universal Broadband Fund (UBF) (external link). These applications will support our efforts to provide residents in parts of rural Halton with access to more reliable and affordable broadband internet service.
"The COVID-19 pandemic has required us to connect with each other differently and access to reliable broadband internet in our underserviced communities is more critical than ever,” said Halton Regional Chair Gary Carr. “We ask the Federal Government to support these proposals as part of the UBF program so that the broadband needs of our rural residents and businesses are met, allowing them to stay connected in their daily lives, both personally and professionally."
The Region continues to advocate for enhanced access to broadband services for residents and businesses—a priority identified in Halton Region’s 2019-2022 Strategic Business Plan. In 2018, Halton Region worked with the University of Guelph’s Regional and Rural Broadband project (external link) on a study of broadband, which identified significant service gaps in rural Burlington, Milton and Halton Hills.
Halton Region encourages and supports Provincial and Federal rural broadband funding submissions led by telecommunications service providers looking to build, own and operate services that would fill the broadband internet services gaps in rural Halton.
To learn more about the work Halton Region is doing to advocate for universal access to broadband internet and cellular coverage in underserviced communities, please visit the Advocating for a Strong Halton page on halton.ca.
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“From school and work, to mental health well-being and social connection, everyone needs access to reliable broadband internet. We are proud to support these proposals to help achieve better connection for residents in rural areas of Burlington and Halton Region,” said Burlington Mayor Marianne Meed Ward.
“It’s more important than ever to ensure our residents can stay informed, safe and healthy, and access to the internet supports this for everyone. By addressing current service gaps in Halton Hills, we will help support everyone’s health now and in the future,” said Halton Hills Mayor Rick Bonnette.
“Our lives have changed significantly over the past year, and we know that it’s important to have the infrastructure in place for residents to access the internet. Milton supports these proposals to ensure we continue to work towards our goal of enhancing access to this essential service,” said Milton Mayor Gord Krantz.
“Accessing internet and cellphone coverage is crucial for residents across our region. We will continue to advocate to the Federal Government for their support to ensure our community is connected,” said Oakville Mayor Rob Burton.
“We have seen throughout the COVID-19 pandemic how vital the internet is for daily living, including for those living in rural areas of Milton and Halton. Universal connectivity is essential to ensure that every Canadian is able to participate in the economy and our society. Whether it's connecting small businesses, families or students, each and every Canadian deserves access to affordable, reliable high-speed internet, and that’s precisely what we will achieve with the Universal Broadband Fund,” said Adam van Koeverden, MP for Milton.
The Regional Municipality of Halton serves 5950,000 residents in the City of Burlington, the Town of Halton Hills, the Town of Milton, and the Town of Oakville. Halton Region is committed to meeting the needs of its residents through the delivery of cost-effective, quality programs and services, including water and wastewater; Regional roads and planning; paramedic services; waste management; public health; social assistance; children’s and seniors’ services; housing services; heritage programs; emergency management and economic development. For more information, call 311 or visit Halton Region’s website at halton.ca.