Statement made on 15 April 2010 by Senator Francis Fox (retired)
Hon. Francis Fox:
My question is for the Leader of the Government in the Senate and has to do with high-speed Internet in rural regions that, by definition, are underserved.
Last week we learned from the Fédération québécoise des municipalités that people living in the country's rural regions are still waiting for critical funding that would allow them to connect to high-speed Internet.
Following the creation of a $225 million fund in the 2009 budget, Prime Minister Harper himself reiterated the promise made in the budget when he was in one region on July 30, 2009, with Minister Christian Paradis, saying:
By the end of the summer, broadband access will be available in remote communities far away from major centres.
The government promised to disburse the money by the end of December 2009, but there is still no sign of these services or the necessary funding.
Can the Minister tell us when Canadians in rural regions will receive the funding they so greatly need in order to benefit from the same advantages as their fellow citizens in urban areas?
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