Living in a rural location has its perks. It’s peaceful, it’s quiet, and you’re out the way of all that city centre pollution. Bliss. However, when it comes to keeping up with technology, it can become a bit of a broadband nightmare.
In this piece, we’ll be delving into the struggles that people living in rural communities are facing and find out what is being done by the government and other people in the rural communities to help get these affected areas better connected in the 21st century.
For example, we’ll be showing you via the infographic below just why rural communities have such a poor internet connection and what one MBE industry leader is doing to help. We’ll discover the future of deliveries to rural areas, take a look at a trust that is installing defibrillators in phone boxes and much more.
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re the article above: The Struggle isn’t just in the UK, Broadband is essential in farm Ontario
Queen’s Park — Without a doubt, being disconnected means being disadvantaged. The Ontario Government has committed $63.7 million in South-Western Integrated Fibre Technology (SWIFT) increasing Internet connectivity for those living and working in Norfolk County.
For years, I’ve been hearing from people in my area complaining—I hear these complaints in my own home, actually—about poor Internet service,” Barrett told the Ontario Legislature. “This is going to help. It’s going to help families stay connected. It’s going to help students with their homework. It’s going to help both large and small businesses be part of Ontario’s thriving economy.
Minister of Infrastructure Monte McNaughton explained SWIFT offers reliable broadband access, allowing residents and businesses to stream high-speed Internet from their homes, farms and businesses. People will access digital services, get their work done and connect with their loved ones.
I went on to tell my colleagues that greater connectivity and faster Internet is good for farmers in all fields. Farmers can’t remain compliant and competitive when they can’t effectively do business online or file documents. Modern agriculture requires connectivity for a variety of jobs, checking the weather, checking the markets. Affordable broadband is essential across rural Ontario to access e-commerce, close deals, process payments, share information and connect with your customers and with your markets.
Ernie Hardeman, Agriculture Minister joined the discussion in the House adding agriculture is increasingly high tech with the rise of precision agriculture. As farming becomes increasingly highly land- and labour-intensive, technology also needs to be far more controlled and accurate in systems like GPS guidance, sensors, robotics, drones, autonomous vehicles like tractors and many more.
Farmers and those in rural parts of the province have access to even fewer resources due to the nature of their remote locations, so their need to access wider government resources such as health care and especially mental health care options online is even more urgent.
For more information, contact MPP Toby Barrett at 519-428-0446, 905-765-8413 or 1-800-903-8629 Please mention the Silo when contacting.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cVBNOtBTnBs&feature=youtu.be
ONTARIO LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY
OFFICIAL HANSARD
Broadband infrastructure
Mr. Toby Barrett: The question is for the Minister of Infrastructure. We received news, a few weeks ago, when the minister and the Minister of Agriculture arrived in my riding to unveil a key piece of Ontario’s budget commitment to improve people’s broadband connections, no matter where they live.
For years, I’ve been hearing from people in my area complaining—I hear these complaints in my own home, actually—about poor Internet service. This is going to help. It’s going to help families stay connected. It’s going to help students with their homework. It’s going to help both large and small businesses be part of Ontario’s thriving economy.
Minister, could you let people in this House—give them an idea what the SWIFT program is about and what the next steps are for this program to see some progress down in Norfolk county?
Hon. Monte McNaughton: Thank you to the member from Haldimand–Norfolk for that excellent question.
Mr. Speaker, without a doubt, being disconnected means being disadvantaged. I was happy to join the member, along with my colleague the Minister of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs, for this very exciting announcement. Our government is committing up to $63.7 million to the SWIFT program. We’ve heard from our rural and northern communities and, unlike the previous Liberal government, we’re taking action.
SWIFT offers reliable broadband access, allowing residents and businesses to stream high-speed Internet from their homes, farms and businesses. People will access digital services, get their work done and connect with their loved ones.
Affordable broadband connectivity is essential in rural and northern Ontario. With this commitment, we’re proving that we’re putting the people at the centre of everything we do and protecting what matters most.
The Speaker (Hon. Ted Arnott): The supplementary question.
Mr. Toby Barrett: Thank you, Minister. I will add that the other half of my riding, Haldimand county, did not opt into the SWIFT program, and they also have some considerable issues with connection.
However, this is great news for farmers. Farmers can’t remain compliant and competitive when they can’t effectively do business online or file documents. Modern agriculture requires connectivity for a variety of jobs, checking the weather, checking the markets. Affordable broadband is essential across rural Ontario to access e-commerce, close deals, process payments, share information and connect with your customers and with your markets.
Speaker, could the minister reiterate why broadband is so important for the business of farming?
Hon. Monte McNaughton: I’ll refer this to the Minister of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs.
Hon. Ernie Hardeman: Thanks to the member from Haldimand–Norfolk for that very great question. Our farmers know that access to reliable Internet is critical for their businesses to thrive. Agriculture is increasingly high tech with the rise of precision agriculture. As farming becomes increasingly highly land- and labour-intensive, technology also needs to be far more controlled and accurate in systems like GPS guidance, sensors, robotics, drones, autonomous vehicles like tractors and many more.
Farmers and those in rural parts of the province have access to even fewer resources due to the nature of their remote locations, so their need to access wider government resources such as health care and especially mental health care options online is even more urgent.
I’m proud of our government’s investment to expand broadband in southwestern Ontario through SWIFT and in eastern Ontario through EORN. We look forward to continuing this important work to make sure those in rural Ontario have the same access—
The Speaker (Hon. Ted Arnott): Thank you very much.