Bruce-Grey-Owen Sound MP Alex Ruff is encouraging residents to give their input on a set of recommendations to improve internet connectivity in rural Canada.
Ruff is consolidating local input to pass along to Calgary-Nose Hill Conservative MP Michelle Rempel Garner who is the Shadow Minister for Industry and Economic Development.
Rempel Garner is working on a proposal called “Connect Canada – Call to Action For Rural Internet Access,” which the opposition plans to present to the government.
COVID-19 has created a greater need for internet access for work and communication. It has also reduced people's access to services with the closure of many schools and various offices. The Liberal government is working on a plan to connect 95 per cent of Canadians by 2026 and 100 per cent of Canadians by 2030.
“We're trying to give them a solution that can be done in a year and a half,” says Ruff, who is optimistic it could be done, “It's a multi-pronged approach. It's freeing up government, it's freeing up even the telecoms themselves— from the small ones to the big ones, with providing that sort of framework on how they can approach this and make it feasible, and that's what we're proposing.”
He adds “You can do anything in a year and a half, that's more than enough time to do this, it just needs to be the priority.”
The proposal itself has some tight timelines and Ruff is asking for this initial input on it by Friday (May 29th).
Ruff says within a few hours of requesting comments from constituents on social media this week, he'd already received about 20 emails on the subject.
“What we're really looking for right now is feedback, criticism and commentary on the actual proposal and the 14 recommendations that we put forward so that we are championing and prioritizing what aspects of this policy document make sense and will work.”
He says the proposal suggests some possibly quick ways to bring internet to rural areas, “There are different ways to do it. It's piggy backing on existing infrastructure, whether it's an expansion of infrastructure, whether you're using different types of technology. One of the proposals in there is a partnership with municipalities or direct funding to them,” says Ruff.
It also suggests ways to provide internet immediately during the pandemic through 'Cell On Wheels' mobile trailers that can provide cellular internet access to remote areas.
It proposes a nationwide broadband strategy that could include public-private partnerships. It calls for proper enforcement of internet speed benchmarks and requiring service providers to advertise average speeds not best-case-scenario speeds.
They also propose that regional price differences for national providers should not exceed 10% to avoid regional price wars.
You can find the proposal on Michelle Rempel Garner's website HERE
You can contact MP Alex Ruff by emailing Alex.Ruff@parl.gc.ca or by calling 519-371-1059 (Owen Sound Office)
I'm submitting an initial report on feedback received to date on #rural #broadband #internet and this #ConnectCanada initiative. Anyone that wants to comment, please email me before Friday, 29 May – alex.ruff@parl.gc.ca if you want your feedback included now. #BruceGreyOwenSound https://t.co/0qItmsacjQ pic.twitter.com/qIMgtnljxw
— Alex Ruff (@AlexRuff17) May 26, 2020