Dear Editor,
I’d like to set the record straight regarding the 2019 Conservative candidate’s letter on rural internet connectivity in last week’s issue of THE EQUITY.
He mistakenly claims that high speed internet has not been a priority for me as Member of Parliament and that progress isn’t being made. Throughout my three years in office, I have consistently made reliable high speed internet services a top priority and I have been delivering on these commitments.
Over the past year, we have announced over $13.4 million in funding to connect 3,211 households in 28 communities across this federal riding. By contrast, the previous Conservative government announced a mere $255,000 (in 2009) over the 10 years they were in power. If Pontiac is playing catch-up on internet infrastructure, it’s due to a legacy of non-investment from both the private sector and the previous administration.
Pursuant to federal and provincial requirements, the $13.4M backbone fibre projects announced this year must be completed by Bell Canada at the latest by 2021. However, I share Pontiac constituents’ sense of urgency and have been urging the company to implement as quickly as possible. I stand with our mayors, our warden and our provincial MNA who demand rapid deployment. But remember, these are not “government” projects: these are private sector projects stimulated by government incentives that were barely even offered when the Conservatives governed.
We need more of this type of investment and I’ll continue to work with local leaders to achieve it.
I also recognize that there are still parts of our riding with poor broadband service and I am working with the MRC and municipalities to access further funds available through the CRTC’s $750 million rural internet fund.
There are broader economic and regulatory reasons why rural Canada does not benefit from the same digital infrastructure investments as urban Canada. We need to get to the root of this problem: it’s a national issue, not merely a local matter for Pontiac politicians to address. So I won’t offer simple slogans to falsely promise a quick fix. This is why my Private Member’s Motion, M-208, is so important: because it seeks to focus the House of Commons debate on how we can fundamentally address the cellular and internet infrastructure discrepancies between rural and urban Canada.
At the end of the day, we are making progress on internet in the Pontiac with unprecedented government investments. However the digital infrastructure problem is complex and will not be resolved overnight. As MP, I’m committed to keeping this issue front and centre. I will continue to fight for further investments and system change.
William Amos
Member of Parliament, Pontiac
