Question Period Note: EASTERN ONTARIO REGIONAL NETWORK

The Eastern Ontario Regional Network’s Cellular Gap Project will improve cellular and mobile broadband coverage and service in the region.

• Our government is pleased to support the Eastern Ontario Regional Network’s Cellular Gap Project, which will deliver better mobile coverage for over 1.1 million residents in 102 communities in Eastern Ontario.

• Once complete, this important initiative will allow residents to contact emergency services like 9-1-1 more easily, enhance the delivery of public services, and facilitate social inclusion and new economic development.

• Our government is providing almost $71 million under the Investing in Canada Infrastructure Program for this initiative, which represents about one third of total costs.

• The Cellular Gap Project will expand and enhance the Eastern Ontario Regional Network’s high-capacity, fibre-optic network to address gaps in cellular coverage across the region. Key components include 137 new towers, 76 co-located towers, 32 Points of Presence, radio and antenna equipment, power infrastructure in remote locations and additional fibre.

• The Eastern Ontario Regional Network reports that over ten percent of eastern Ontario cannot access mobile broadband or cell phone services, including 9-1-1 emergency services. In this regard, the project will reduce cellular dead zones along main transportation arteries to support faster emergency responses, enhance delivery of public services in sparsely populated areas, and facilitate social and economic inclusion of people in rural communities by increasing the ability to communicate easily and reliably by cellular broadband. The project will be completed over four years (December 2019 – January 2024) using a phased approach, and will improve mobile coverage for over 1.1 million residents in 102 communities in Eastern Ontario.

• Total eligible costs of the project amount to $213.0 million. The federal contribution of almost one-third or $71.0 million will be provided under the Rural and Northern Communities Stream of the Investing in Canada Infrastructure Program, [redacted] and announced on July 4, 2019. The federal contribution will be matched by the Province of Ontario while the Eastern Ontario Wardens’ Caucus will provide $10 million with telecommunication service providers covering the balance.

• The Ultimate Recipient, the Eastern Ontario Regional Network (EORN), is a not-for-profit organization established, owned and governed by the Eastern Ontario Warden’s Caucus, which is composed of 13 regional municipalities. EORN previously received $55 million from the Building Canada Fund – Major Infrastructure Component to construct a fixed, high-speed broadband network in the region that was completed in March 2015 on time and on budget.

• EORN expects to issue Requests for Proposals this spring to build and install certain components of the Cellular Gap Project.

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