Government of Canada announces Newfoundland and Labrador communities to benefit from Connect to Innovate funding

Communities across the province to get access to new or faster Internet through joint investment

ST. JOHN'S, Jan. 29, 2018 /CNW/ - Approximately 70 rural and remote communities throughout the province of Newfoundland and Labrador will benefit directly or indirectly from faster Internet. They will be able to do business online, participate in distance education and take advantage of the opportunities afforded by the digital age thanks to a combined investment in high-speed Internet.

A large portion of federal funding is being allocated through Connect to Innovate, a federal program that aims to provide Canadians in underserved communities with access to high-speed Internet by investing in backbone networks, upgrading capacity and extending access.

A list of communities that will benefit from Connect to Innovate funded–projects in Newfoundland and Labrador along with the Internet service provider and Connect to Innovate funding for each project can be found in the Connect to Innovate Newfoundland and Labrador projects table.

Quotes

"Access to high-speed Internet is not a luxury; it's essential. High-speed Internet is a basic tool that all Canadians should have access to, regardless of their postal code. Canadians need this service to do business, upgrade their education and build stronger communities. Thanks to our Connect to Innovate program, more Canadians will be able to participate fully in the digital economy."
– The Honourable Navdeep Bains, Minister of Innovation, Science and Economic Development

Quick facts

• The Government of Canada's Connect to Innovate program is investing $500 million to go toward building the digital backbone of high-speed Internet networks in Canada. Backbone networks are the digital highways that move data in and out of communities. These highways carry large amounts of data that are essential for schools, hospitals, libraries and businesses to function in a digital world.
• Connect to Innovate will also fund last-mile connections to households that don't have high-speed Internet.
• Of the $39.97 million invested in Newfoundland and Labrador (announced on January 2, 2018), $26.88 million will come from the federal government, $1.57 million will come from the Government of Newfoundland and Labrador, and $11.52 million will come from other contributors.
• Of the federal investment, $24.78 million in funding will come from the Connect to Innovate program and $2.1 million will come from the Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency.
• Connect to Innovate is part of the Government of Canada's Innovation and Skills Plan, a multi-year strategy to create well-paying jobs for the middle class.

Associated links

• Connect to Innovate

Follow Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada on Twitter: @ISED_CA

Connect to Innovate Newfoundland and Labrador projects

The communities listed for each project continue to change as the implementation of projects evolves.

Targeted communities	Internet service provider	Project funding
English Harbour East Grand Le Pierre	Bell Canada	$485,030
Conche	Bell Canada	$344,180
Cook's Harbour	Bell Canada	$323,570
Admirals Beach    Fox Harbour    O'Donnells	Bell Canada	$397,490
Grey River Ramea	Bell Canada	$900,000
Miles Cove    Port Anson	Bell Canada	$339,900
Petit Forte    Southeast Bight	Bell Canada	$759,830
Gaultois	Bell Canada	$376,500
McCallum	Bell Canada	$406,730
Rencontre East	Bell Canada	$341,550
St. Brendan's	Bell Canada	$318,150
Change Islands	Bell Canada	$337,280
Bacon Cove    Cappahayden    Fair Haven    Kitchuses    Little Harbour East	Bell Canada	$331,240
Burgoynes Cove    Harcourt    Monroe	Bell Canada	$369,270
Cottrell's Cove    Fortune Harbour	Bell Canada	$942,750
Fleur de Lys	Bell Canada	$462,990
Ming's Bight	Bell Canada	$484,360
Mud Lake	Bell Canada	$281,250
Burnside    Jamestown    Laurenceton    Newtown    St. Chads    Winter Brook	Bell Canada	$631,620
Cormack    Gallants    Jack Ladder	Bell Canada	$421,450
Jackson's Arm    Pollards Point    Sop's Arm    The Beaches	Bell Canada	$1,290,000
Reidville	Bell Canada	$76,980
Port aux Basques	Bell Canada	$277,200
Baie Verte	Bell Canada	$439,540
St. Alban's	Bell Canada	$412,500
Bear Cove	Bell Canada	$355,020
Port Albert	Bell Canada	$472,810
Fogo    Island Harbour    Seldom-Little Seldom	Bell Canada	$474,000
Capstan Island    Cartwright    Charlottetown    Forteau    L'Anse au Loup    L'Anse-au-Clair    Lodge Bay    Mary's Harbour    Pinware    Port Hope Simpson    Red Bay    St. Lewis    West St. Modeste	Bell Canada	$8,250,000
Anchor Point Bartletts Harbour Bear Cove Bellburns Bird Cove Black Duck Cove Blue Cove Brig Bay Castor River North Castor River South Cow Head Deadmans Cove Eddies Cove Eddies Cove West English Harbour East Flower's Cove Forresters Point Gargamelle Grand Le Pierre Green Island Brook Green Island Cove Halfway Point Hawke's Bay Lower Lance Cove Nameless Cove New Ferolle Parson's Pond Petley Pidgeon Cove-St. Barbe Pines Cove Plum Point Pond Cove Port au Choix Port Saunders Portland Creek Sally's Cove Rocky Harbour Savage Cove Shoal Cove St. Barbe North Sandy Cove St. Pauls	EION Inc.	$2,210,000
Hopedale    Makkovik    Nain    Natuashish    Postville    Rigolet	Bell Canada	$1,280,000

SOURCE Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada

Karl W. Sasseville, Press Secretary, Office of the Minister of Innovation, Science and Economic Development , 343-291-2500; Media Relations, Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada, 343-291-1777, [email protected]

Related Links

http://www.ic.gc.ca/eic/site/icgc.nsf/eng/home