Great news for TWPEC... here comes high speed internet service

This Morning, WED MAY 26 at 10:00AM., I just finished attending a major ZOOM MEDIA EVENT with the MINISTER FOR WOMEN AND GENDER EQUALITY AND RURAL ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT the HONOURABLE MINISTER MONSEF who has announced TEN (10) Universal Broadband Fund (UBF) projects that are part of the Rapid Response Stream (RRS).

The objective of this stream, which has a budget of up to $150 million, is to enhance household access to high-speed Internet to address immediate broadband needs and to contribute to the acceleration of the connectivity timelines and ambitions of the Universal Broadband Fund.

These projects are spread over Eastern Ontario and I was one of three local Mayors who were invited to attend the Event and respond to the announcement. TWPEC will see High SPEED INTERNET SERVICES delivered to the home in SPENCERVILLE, & the CARDINAL to JOHNSTOWN Rural area, under the Rapid Response Stream.

IN ADDITION TO THIS GOOD NEWS STORY…which will serve a major portion of the Township, be aware that Township Council is still supporting the EORN….” GIG DOWN-GIG UP” PROJECT which is designed to bring HIGH SPEED INTERNET TO EVERY HOME AND BUSINESS IN THE TOWNSHIP, if we can get the project funded.

Todays’ announcement will involve a total of ten projects with Bell, Cogeco and Lakeland Holdings totaling $6,277,564; six projects with Bell – West Guilford (RRS 01816), Baysville (RRS 01784), Merrickville-Wolford (RRS 01255), Spencerville (RRS 01256), Newtonville (RRS 01406), Newcastle and Clarington (RRS 01526). Three projects with Cogeco – Township Edwardsburg Cardinal (RRS 00846), Northumberland-Salem, Little LakeTubs Corners, Greenleys Corners and Castleton (RRS 00835) and Northumberland/Lakeport (RRS 00837); one with Lakeland Holdings - Wasauksing First Nation Broadband Expansion (RRS 01646)

The Bell West Guildford, Baysville, Merrickville-Wolford, Spencerville, Newtonville, Newcastle and Clarington projects totaling $2,637,164 will improve the broadband connectivity for 1,304 households in the region of eastern Ontario using fibre last mile and fibre core network technologies.

The Cogeco Township Edwardsburg Cardinal, Northumberland-Salem, LittleTubs Corners, Greenleys Corners and Castleton, and Northumberland/Lakeport projects totalling $2,855,150 will improve the broadband connectivity for 911 households in the region of eastern Ontario using fibre last mile and fibre core network technologies.

The Lakeland Holdings Wasauksing First Nation project totalling $785,250 will improve the broadband connectivity to 159 households using fibre last mile and fibre core network technologies.

The Minister was also Acknowledging Indigenous Territory & Speaking from the traditional territory of Michi Saagiig Territory. (Peterborough)

MY THANK YOU REMARKS on behalf of COUNCIL and our residents are included below as I know that everyone involved will have the opportunity to benefit from the major improvements to internet services in these areas.

Thank you remarks on behalf of residents

Good Morning Minister Monsef, Fellow Mayors, Chief Warren Tabobondung, Ladies & Gentlemen.

As Mayor of the Township of EdwardsburghCardinal and on behalf of Council it is a pleasure to have been invited here this morning to share in this important Broadband Announcement which will include a portion of my Township. I must say that improved connectivity is top of the list in the homes of the folks I speak to on a daily basis.

So THANK YOU MINISTER FOR RECOGNIZING THE CONNECTIVITY NEEDS OF OUR RESIDENTS HERE IN EDWARDSBURGHCARDINAL.
WE ARE A SMALL RURAL TOWNSHIP OF 7,600 FOLKS LOCATED 45 MINUTES SOUTH OF OTTAWA. WE HAVE ABOUT 2,900 HOUSEHOLDS SPREAD OVER 100 SQUARE MILES ALONG SOME 180 KILOMETERS OF TOWNSHIP & COUNTY ROADS.
LESS THAN 40% OF OUR FAMILIES HAVE RELIABLE HIGH SPEED INTERNET SERVICE AS WE HAVE LEARNED THIS PAST YEAR WITH SO MANY SCHOOL CHILDREN TRYING TO LEARN REMOTELY OVER THE INTERNET WITH SLOW OR UNRELIABLE SERVICE CONNECTIONS.
IN FACT EVEN IN OUR OWN VIRTUAL COUNCIL MEETING LAST EVENING WE LOST THE INTERNET CONNECTION THREE TIMES MUCH TO THE CONSTERNATION OF THE SPEAKERS WHO WERE PRESENTING BY ZOOM AND THE OTHER OBSERVERS WHO WERE ATTENDING VIRTUALLY, NOT TO MENTION MEMBERS OF COUNCIL AND STAFF.
IT IS IN THESE SPARSELY POPULATED, HARD TO SERVE RURAL AREAS WHERE SMALL MARKET SIZE AND SPARSE POPULATION DENSITY DISCOURAGES PRIVATE SECTOR INVESTMENT THAT THE UNIVERSAL BROADBAND FUND CAN MAKE A HUGH IMPROVEMENT TO THE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT OF THE AREA AS SO MANY FOLKS ARE NOW WORKING FROM HOME.
IMPROVED CONNECTIVITY FOR OUR RESIDENTS IS ONE OF THE MAIN OBJECTIVES OF OUR COUNCIL.
WE HAVE BEEN COLLABORATING WITH COGECO SINCE THE SUMMER OF 2019 DISCUSSING THE KEY AREAS OF CONCERN WITH REGARDS TO CONNECTIVITY IN EDWARDSBURGHCARDINAL. COGECO HAS WORKED TO KEEP US INFORMED OF THE VARIOUS BROADBAND PROGRAMS THAT HAVE BEEN MADE AVAILABLE AND WE ARE PLEASED THAT THEY HAVE BEEN SUCCESSFUL IN OBTAINING FUNDING FROM THE ISED PROGRAM TO EXPAND SERVICES IN OUR REGION. IT HAS BEEN A PLEASURE DEALING WITH THEM AND WE LOOK FORWARD TO HAVING MORE OF OUR RESIDENTS ENJOYING HIGH SPEED INTERNET THROUGH THEIR SERVICE.

Pat Sayeau, Mayor
Township of EdwardsburghCardinal.