Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Yesterday we were witness to the 2014-15 federal budget called, “Economic Action Plan 2014: The Road to Balance,” creating jobs and opportunities. I’d like to take a minute to echo some of the NWT highlights and wish a very heartfelt thank you to the federal counterparts for investments in mine training, economic diversification, transportation, health services and reducing medical travel and Nutrition North, just to name a few.
By the federal government reconfirming and starting new initiatives in the NWT, it once again reaffirms their commitments to us at the success of a healthy and prosperous North. In fact, Prime Minister Stephen Harper echoed this sentiment in August of 2012 during a Whitehorse tour when he stated, “Those who want to see the future of this country should look North,” and it appears those promises continue.
Yesterday also marked a significant commitment of support in pledging $305 million over five years to extend and enhance broadband high-speed Internet access to rural and northern communities. It is no surprise we are underdeveloped in this area in many of our smaller communities and this announcement will put a significant dent in our digital divide to the rest of Canada.
According to CRTC’s 2013 Communications Monitoring Report, Canada’s North received subpar broadband access. In fact, in 2012 less than 50 percent of Northerners had access to five megabytes per second broadband download speeds and at a very high cost I must add. In 2013 no satellite-served community offered consumers access to five megabytes per second broadband speeds, while 94 percent of Canadians had access in excess of that speed.
This announcement means great news for Northerners to have more affordable, more choice and better competitive local pricing when it comes to their broadband services. What needs to happen now will strongly be dependent on the Government of the Northwest Territories to realize opportunity, maximize these investments, work with all local providers of broadband services and prepare a bulletproof action plan for the North. Let’s hope Cabinet is listening. Thank you.
Thank you, Mr. Dolynny. The Member for Weledeh, Mr. Bromley.
