It was a promise made years ago and now it will soon come true. The provincial and federal governments have announced that all of Quebec will have high-speed internet by September 2022.
The announcement was made earlier today during a press conference which included Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, Premier François Legault, François-Philippe Champagne (Minister of Innovation, Science and Industry), and Gilles Bélanger. It seems the federal and provincial governments have reached an agreement to invest $826 million and will split the bill evenly — $413 million each.
“An internet connection isn’t a luxury,” Trudeau said describing the agreement as historic. “It’s a necessity.”
The announcement follows tough negotiations with the various internet providers in the Quebec market including Vidéotron, Bell, Cogeco, Telus and Xplornet, and Sogetel.
“We have solved this problem, together, at last,” added Legault praising Ottawa for showing flexibility. “The internet is not a luxury. It’s like electricity was 60 years ago.”
Both Trudeau and Legault agreed that the pandemic and the need to work and study from home have put a spotlight on the “communicational inequalities of Quebecers”.
The program would give Quebec the best broadband coverage in all of Canada.
