Meeting of Federal, Provincial and Territorial Ministers of Innovation and Economic Development

News Release

For Immediate Release

Federal, provincial, territorial ministers agree to the principles of a Canadian broadband strategy that will improve access to high speed internet for all Canadians.
Better access to high speed internet will improve competitiveness and address digital divide

October 26, 2018 - Vancouver, British Columbia –

Today, federal, provincial and territorial ministers for innovation and economic development agreed to making broadband a priority and to develop a long-term strategy to improve access to high-speed Internet services for all Canadians. The commitment to a strategy is the latest outcome of this intergovernmental table focused on driving growth and job creation through innovation.

Ministers recognize that access to high-speed Internet service is critical for businesses to grow and compete and for all Canadians to fully access the goods and services available in a digital economy. As outlined in a statement released today, Ministers agreed to work towards universal access to high-speed Internet and improve access to the latest mobile wireless services along major roads and where Canadians live and work.

High speed connectivity is critical to the prosperity and wellbeing of Canadians particularly with the next-generation of high-quality networks that will especially enable smart cities, connected cars and e-health for Canadians.

At the meeting, ministers were also briefed on the report from Canada's Economic Strategy Tables. This report identifies opportunities to create the conditions for strong, long-term competitiveness that will secure Canadians' quality of life. Ministers agreed to consider the advice of the tables in advancing their two-year work plan in ways that will help companies to scale up and to adopt new technologies.

Ministers also discussed the promotion of Indigenous economic development through partnerships among Indigenous businesses, non-Indigenous businesses and communities.

Quotes

"Access to reliable and quality high-speed Internet is no longer a luxury.  As a country, we have made incredible advances, building mobile networks that are among the fastest in the world and bringing broadband Internet to rural and remote communities across Canada.  Yet there is more to do.  The commitment to a strategy we made today reflects the ambition we all share to get all Canadians online and participating in the digital economy."
-- The Honourable Navdeep Bains, Minister of Innovation, Science and Economic Development, Government of Canada

"We want to establish Canada and British Columbia as a preferred location for new and emerging technologies and ensure the benefits of tech and innovation are felt across the province. Many tech companies are small businesses and a reliable Internet connection keeps them at the leading edge of global technological advances. We look forward to collaborating with jurisdictions across Canada to foster job creation and economic development through innovation so Canada stays competitive, and continues to be a place where people want to live and do business."
-- The Honourable Bruce Ralston, Minister of Jobs, Trade and Technology, Government of British Columbia

Quick facts

• Ministers committed to work towards universal access to benchmark Internet speeds of 50 Megabits per second download and 10 Megabits per second upload. In 2016, these speeds were available to 41% of Canadians in rural and remote areas.
• Mobile wireless services based on 4G Long Term Evolution technology were available to 98.5% of homes, but there are more substantial gaps along unpopulated areas of major roads.
• The number of connected devices per Canadian is expected to increase from 6 in 2016 to 11 by 2021.
• 70% of teachers assign homework requiring Internet access; students with home Internet access have a 7% higher rate of graduation compared to those without.
• In December 2016, CRTC declared broadband a basic telecom service for all Canadians.
• The ministers agreed to two-year work plan when they last met, on October 13, 2017, in Vancouver. The work plan was developed to strengthen Canada's competitive advantages and accelerate economic growth, create jobs and increase shared prosperity.

Contacts:

Nilani Logeswaran
Press Secretary
Office of the Minister of Innovation, Science, and Economic Development
343-291-2849
613-668-1794

Media Relations
Innovation, Science and
Economic Development Canada
343-291-1777
ic.mediarelations-mediasrelations.ic@canada.ca

Media Relations
British Columbia Ministry of Jobs, Trade and Technology
778 698-2892