Backgrounder: Governments of Canada and British Columbia invest to improve high-speed Internet access across British Columbia

On March 4, 2024, the Honourable Gudie Hutchings, Minister of Rural Economic Development and Minister responsible for the Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency, together with the Honourable George Chow, British Columbia’s (B.C.) Minister of Citizens’ Services, announced combined federal and provincial funding to improve high-speed Internet access in communities across British Columbia.

Here is an overview of B.C.’s connectivity status:

• In 2022, 95.2% of B.C. was connected to high-speed Internet (at least 50 megabits per second [Mbps] download /10 Mbps upload)
• In 2023, 96.6% of B.C. was connected to high-speed Internet (at least 50 Mbps download / 10 Mbps upload)
• In 2024, 97% of B.C. is projected to be connected to high-speed Internet (at least 50 Mbps download / 10 Mbps upload )
• In 2025, 97.1% of B.C. is projected to be connected to high-speed Internet (at least 50 Mbps download / 10 Mbps upload )
• In 2026, 97.1% of B.C. is projected to be connected to high-speed Internet (at least 50 Mbps download / 10 Mbps upload )

The communities that will benefit from improved Internet speeds thanks to projects that are not specifically co-funded with B.C. but are still part of the memorandum of understanding between the governments of Canada and B.C. are as follows: