Increase high-speed broadband coverage, including in rural communities, and keep Canada at the leading edge of the digital economy.

What success looks like

More Canadians have access to high-speed and ultra-high-speed broadband services.

Government's narrative on progress

Greater availability and affordability for high-speed internet in rural and remote areas of Canada gives Canadians more opportunity to participate in the economy, democracy and connected way of life. In Budget 2019, the government announced targets for 95% of Canadian homes and businesses to access to speeds of at least 50/10 Megabits per second (Mbps) by 2026, and 100% by 2030, no matter where they are located in the country. Investments of $5 to $6 billion were announced including a new $1.7 billion Universal Broadband Fund and complementary investments from partners like the Canadian Infrastructure Bank and the private sector. As the government moves forward it will build on existing collaboration with private sector partners, provinces and territories, municipalities, public institutions, Indigenous communities, and non-profit organizations to maximize benefits for Canadians. This approach will also include complementary actions such as spectrum policy measures to support the deployment of advanced wireless services, accelerated investment incentives that make it more attractive for service providers to invest in broadband, and leveraging investments from the Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission’s (CRTC) $750 million Broadband Fund. Budget 2019 builds on the ongoing success of the $500 million Connect to Innovate program. As of March 2019, 180 projects have been announced representing an investment of $466.4 million and targeting more than 900 communities - more than tripling the initial target of 300 - which includes 190 Indigenous communities. Further announcements of successful projects are expected to continue into 2019.

Note: this is the government's own description, not an independent assessment.