Question Period Note: RAPID RESPONSE STREAM – UNIVERSAL BROADBAND FUND

What is the status of the Rapid Response Stream of the Universal Broadband Fund (UBF)?

• High Speed Internet is a necessity to live, work and play, and the Government of Canada is committed to ensuring that all Canadians have access.

• The $2.75 billion Universal Broadband Fund, along with other initiatives, will help connect 98 per cent of Canadians by 2026, with the goal of connecting all Canadians by 2030.

• Rapid Response Stream projects are well underway. The government has already announced 131 projects across the country that will connect 75,000 households, including nearly 15,000 Indigenous households.

• There are additional projects underway that the government is preparing to announce to Canadians.

• The Rapid Response Stream will allocate up to $5 million per project to projects that can be completed quickly and have an immediate impact in rural and remote areas.

• Through online reporting, the government will keep Canadians up to date on these investments and the progress made towards connecting all households in the country.

• While Rapid Response Stream projects are well underway, factors such as weather events and supply chain disruptions can impact construction timelines. The government is working with applicants to ensure that projects are completed quickly.

The Rapid Response Stream was added to the Universal Broadband Fund as a way to support smaller, ready-to-go projects that could be completed quickly during these unprecedented times, helping communities survive the pandemic and helping to support ongoing economic recovery.

Applications for the Rapid Response stream were accepted until January 15, 2021. In total, 574 applications were received from across Canada. These applications requested over $550 million and represented total project costs of over $1 billion. On December 17, 2020, the first project to be funded under the UBF Rapid Response Stream was announced. As of November 30, 2021, the government has announced over $111 million in funding for 131 projects under the Rapid Response Stream to connect over 75,000 households across Canada.

PROVINCE /TERRITORY NUMBER OF PROJECTS ANNOUNCED ANNOUNCED HOUSEHOLDS ANNOUNCED FUNDING
British Columbia 9 4,181 $15,393,571
Alberta 8 12,259 $6,436,076
Saskatchewan 0 0 0
Manitoba 7 6,081 $8,548,001
Ontario 97 32,391 $61,635,362
Quebec 1 855 $268,337
Newfoundland and Labrador 4 3,088 $1,291,206
New Brunswick 1 346 $686,546
Prince Edward Island 0 0 0
Nova Scotia 1 934 $4,466,286
Yukon 0 0 0
Northwest Territories 1 152 $5,000,000
Nunavut 2 15,467
*Note: There is significant overlap between the two projects given the nature of satellite service. $6,986,002
Totals 131 75,754 $110,711,387

Connectivity Strategy
The government published Canada’s Connectivity Strategy in June 2019. The Strategy committed to connect every Canadian to affordable, high-speed Internet no matter where they live by 2030, with a target of 98% of Canadian households by 2026, and to improve mobile cellular access from coast to coast. The UBF is a key action under the Strategy, along with other complementary measures such as improving access to spectrum, reducing barriers to investment, and broadband funding from other entities including the CRTC, Infrastructure Canada, and the Canada Infrastructure Bank.