More than 150 remote communities in B.C. will soon have high-speed internet following a $45.4-million investment from two levels of government.
Federal Minister of Indigenous Services Jane Philpott announced Wednesday Ottawa would commit $34 million to build 3.5 million metres of subsea fibre optic cable along B.C.鈥檚 coast. The remaining $11.4 million will come from the province.
B.C. Minister of Citizens鈥� Services Jinny Sims said faster internet is as important to the economy today as the railroad was in the 19th century.
The internet speeds will be 鈥渃omparable to cities like Vancouver,鈥� Sims said.
The money will help connect 44 First Nations.
Here's a map of communities getting faster internet as part of today's $45M announcement:
鈥� Kat Slepian (@katslepian)
鈥淲orking remotely will now become a reality. Coders, designers, accountants, linguists and small business people can now reach a global audience,鈥� said Peter Lantin, Haida Nation elected president.
鈥淭ransitioning away from our dependency on resource-based economy becomes a reality.鈥�
Faster internet connections will slow the brain-drain of young people leaving Haida Gwaii that Lantin said the islands have been experiencing.
The faster connection speeds will also help the Coastal Guardian Watchmen Network, which monitor and protect the lands and waters on their territories, 鈥渙perate in real-time.鈥�
More than 100 watchmen patrol the coast along First Nation territories, watching for heavy vessels and monitoring emergency responses.
鈥淭hey compile large amounts of data on tourism, enforcement, wildlife and cultural sites,鈥� said Lantin.
Currently, it takes four hours to upload that information, he said, and fibre optic internet is expected to reduce that.
A list of communities receiving internet:
North Coast Regional District
- City West Interconnect (Ridley Island)
- Dodge Cove
- Hartley Bay (Gitga鈥檃t First Nation)
- Kitkatla (Gitxaala Nation)
- Lax Kw鈥檃laams
- Metlakatla First Nation
- Old Massett (Old Massett Village Council)
- Oona River
- Prince Rupert Airport
- Prince Rupert South Interconnect
Kitimat-Stikine Regional District
- Klemtu (Kitasoo)
- Central Coast Regional District
- Bella Bella (Heiltsuk)
- Bella Coola
- Duncandy Landing
- Martin Valley
- Ocean Falls
- Oweekeno (Wuikinuxv Nation)
- Shearwater
Mount Waddington Regional District
- Alert Bay
- Bull Harbour (Tlatlasikwala)
- Cape Scott
- Coal Harbour鈥攔ef.Quatsino IR 50633
- Da鈥檔axda鈥檟w First Nation
- Echo Bay
- 骋飞补鈥橲补濒补-狈补办飞补虫诲补鈥檟飞
- Gwawaenuk Tribe
- Health Bay (Kwikwasut鈥檌nuxw Haxwa鈥檓is)
- Holberg
- Hyde Creek
- Kains Island
- Kingcome (Dzawada鈥檈nuxw First Nation)
- Kwakiutl
- Mahatta River
- 惭补尘补濒颈濒颈办耻濒濒补-蚕飞别鈥橯飞补鈥橲辞迟鈥椭尘
- Mitchell Bay
- Namgis First Nation
- Port Hardy
- Port McNeill
- Quatsino
- Quatsino
- Rumble Beach
- Shawl Bay
- Sointula
- Telegraph Cove
- Winter Harbour
Regional District of Alberni-Clayoquot
- Ahousaht (ref. Marktosis 8592)
- Bamfield
- Haggar Lake
- Hesquiaht
- Hesquiat
- Huu-ay-aht
- Huu-ay-aht First Nations
- Marktosis (+50659 Ahousaht)
- Opitsat (Tla-o-qui-aht First Nations)
- Poett Nook
- Salmon Beach
- Tla-o-qui-aht
- Tofino
- Toquaht
- Toquaht
- Uchucklesaht
- Ucluelet
- Ucluelet
- Ucluelet First Nation
Capital Regional District
- Beecher Bay
- Deep Cove
- Fernwood
- Fulford Harbour
- Ganges
- Musgrave Landing
- Pacheedaht First Nation
- Port Renfrew
- Port Washington
- River Jordan
- Saseenos
- Saturna
- Shirley
- Sidney
- Sooke
- Tseycum
- 罢鈥橲辞耻-办别
- 罢鈥橲辞耻-办别 First Nation
- Victoria
Cowichan Valley Regional District
- Chemainus (Stz鈥檜minus First Nation)
- Ditidaht
- Lyackson
- Malahat First Nation
- Penelakut (Penelakut Tribe)
Regional District of Nanaimo
- Bowser
- Nanaimo
- Nanoose First Nation
- Qualicum Beach
Comox Valley Regional District
- Comox
- Williams Beach
Metro Vancouver Regional District
- Gambier Harbour
- Snug Cove
- Vancouver Interconnect
Sunshine Coast Regional District
- Earls Cove
- Egmont
- Gibsons
- Halfmoon Bay
- Langdale
- New Brighton
- Pope Landing
- Roberts Creek
- Sechelt
- Secret Cove
- Welcome Beach
- Williamsons Landing
- Wilson Creek
Power River Regional District
- Barney鈥檚 Bar
- Black Point
- Bliss Landing
- Brew Bay
- Gillies Bay
- Lang Bay
- Lasqueti
- Lund
- Myrtle Point
- Pinetree
- Powell River
- Saltery Bay
- Sliammon (Tla鈥檃min Nation)
- Stillwater
- Van Anda
- Westview
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