York Region high-speed internet gets $48M boost

Newmarkettoday.ca
March 3, 2023

York Region’s high-speed internet is getting a $48-million boost to deliver better accessibility to 3,800 homes throughout the municipality.

Politicians from federal, provincial and local governments came together this morning at York Region's headquarters in Newmarket to announce that the region’s YorkNet would receive the funding for a project that will bring internet to underserved areas, including Aurora, King City and Holland Landing.

High-speed internet is no longer a luxury but a necessity, said Paul Chiang, parliamentary secretary to the federal minister of Housing and Diversity.

“This investment will help ensure communities in this region are no longer limited in accessing the services they need because of a lack of connectivity,” he said.

The funding will enable YorkNet, the region-owned corporation that builds and maintains a fibre network, to spread into underserved communities. The dollars come as part of a 2021 provincial-federal agreement to bring internet access to 280,000 more homes in the province, totalling a $1.2-billion investment.

Newmarket-Aurora MP Tony Van Bynen formerly chaired YorkNet and helped it launch as a regional council member. He said the government is committed to bringing high-speed connectivity to Canadians wherever they live.

“It’s a real pleasure for me to be here today to see the successful progress that you have made with this project,” Van Bynen said. “Today is a hallmark day for YorkNet and the Regional Municipality of York.”

Other communities in line to see expansion include Markham, Vaughan, Oak Ridges and more than 20 others. However, Newmarket is not on that list specifically.

YorkNet will work with other community partners and internet service providers to bring connectivity, said Amarjot Sandhu, parliamentary assistant to Ontario's minister of Infrastructure.

He added that the province plans to ensure everyone in Ontario has high-speed internet by the end of 2025.

“Our government will ensure that no community will be left behind in today’s digital world,” he said.