The federal and provincial governments announced investments of more than $12.5 million in November and December to support the delivery of broadband internet technology to thousands of homes and businesses in southwestern Ontario.

The projects are being delivered in partnership with Southwestern Integrated Fibre Technology (SWIFT) Inc.

In Grey County, combined funding of $2.7 million has supported the delivery of services to nearly 1,100 families, farms and businesses in the communities of Holstein, Varney, Orchardville, Maple Lane, Yeovil, Dromore, Tartan, Thistle and Bognor. Meanwhile, in Bruce County, the governments combined to invest more than $770,000 to provide access to high-speed internet service to nearly 1,500 families, farms and businesses in Sauble Beach and Sauble Beach North.

In Essex County, the governments announced more than $5.3 million in funding to connect more than 3,400 homes, farms and businesses.

“Providing reliable internet access is especially important for rural communities to prosper in our increasingly digital world,” said Irek Kusmierczyk, Member of Parliament for Windsor—Tecumseh. “This announcement will ensure that thousands of homes, businesses, and farms in Essex County can connect to essential online services and enjoy the additional economic opportunities made available through high-speed internet.”

The federal and provincial governments are each committing $1.4 million to support the construction of broadband infrastructure that will provide access to high-speed internet service for 1,600 homes, farms and businesses in the communities of Edgars, Gesto, Marshfield, Pleasant Valley, Arner, East Harrow, Levergood Beach, Belcreft Beach, Comet, Seymour Beach, Lypps Beach, and Ambassador Beach by June 2023.

Both governments are each committing more than $1.2 million to support construction of an additional infrastructure network that will provide access to high-speed internet service for more than 1,800 homes, farms, and businesses in the communities of Mount Carmel, Wigle, Blytheswood, Oakland and Staples by June 2023.

Finally, in Huron County, the governments announced more than $3.8 million in funding to bring broadband services to more than 1,570 families, farms and businesses. Both levels of government committed nearly $1.6 million to build broadband infrastructure to connect nearly 1,100 families, farms and businesses in Summerhill, Henfryn, Thames Road, Lumley, Hurondale, Wroxeter, Gorrie and Fordwich.

The governments also committed more than $676,000 to support construction of additional infrastructure networks in Huron County, to provide access to high-speed internet service to more than 170 families, farms and businesses in the community of Marnoch.

With the support of investments from the County of Huron, construction is also underway of broadband infrastructure to provide access to high-speed internet service for 310 families, farms and businesses in rural areas near Blue Water Beach, and in rural areas south of the community of Benmiller by June 2023.

The contracts for all the deployments were awarded by SWIFT Inc., a not-for-profit corporation initiated by municipalities to address connectivity in Southwestern Ontario.

More than $255 million has been invested by the governments of Canada and Ontario and the private sector to bring high-speed internet to more than 63,000 households and businesses in Southwestern Ontario through SWIFT by the end of 2025.