ISED - Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada
ISED - Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada
05/29/2026 | Press release | Distributed by Public on 05/29/2026 16:40
Backgrounder: Governments of Canada and British Columbia to help bring high-speed Internet access to communities across the province
Backgrounder: Governments of Canada and British Columbia to help bring high-speed Internet access to communities across the province
Backgrounder
On May 29, the Honourable Buckley Belanger, Secretary of State for Rural Development, together with the Honourable Diana Gibson, British Columbia's Minister of Citizens' Services, announced funding to bring high-speed Internet access to communities in British Columbia.
On May 29, the Honourable Buckley Belanger, Secretary of State for Rural Development, together with the Honourable Diana Gibson, British Columbia's Minister of Citizens' Services, announced funding to bring high-speed Internet access to communities in British Columbia.
Here is an overview of British Columbia's connectivity status:
- As of May 2026, 96.5% of British Columbia households have access to high-speed Internet at speeds of at least 50 megabits per second download and 10 megabits per second upload (50/10 Mbps+).
- In 2017, 92.3% of British Columbia households had access to high-speed Internet (50/10 Mbps+).
Eight projects are being supported by $236 million in co-funding from the governments of Canada and British Columbia:
| Internet service provider | Combined federal and provincial funding | Number of households to be served | Communities to benefit | Technology | Estimated completion date |
|
CCBC-010028 (CityWest Cable & Telephone Corp.) |
$848,799 |
143 (all Indigenous) |
Gitsegukla 1 (Gitsegukla First Nation) |
Fibre |
March 2027 |
|
CCBC-030058 (CityWest Cable & Telephone Corp.) |
$345,068 |
68 |
Shearwater, Old Bella Bella |
Fibre |
September 2026 |
|
CCBC-010014 (TELUS Communications Inc.) |
$38,253,191 |
Up to 1,946 |
Okanagan1 (Okanagan Indian Band), Rock Creek, Yankee Flats, Kingfisher (Rural), Rhone, Shuswap, Kettle Valley, Sorrento, Notch Hill, Westbridge, Turtle Valley, Falkland, Skmana Lake, Silver Creek, Glenemma, Chase (Rural Agnes Creek), Beaverdell, Zamora, Neskonlith 1 (Neskonlith Indian Band), Sahhaltkum 4 (Adams Lake Indian Band), Bridesville, Carmi |
Fibre |
March 2029 |
|
CCBC-010011 (TELUS Communications Inc.) |
$73,479,037 |
Up to 4,492 |
Sheraton, Woodmere, Tchesinkut Lake, Tintagel, Forestdale, Rose Lake, Tyhee Lake, Cinema, Quick, Round Lake, Sinkut River, Reid Lake, Walcott, Dunkley, Buckhorn, Glentanna, Ferndale, Braeside, Evelyn, Stoner, Prairiedale, Hixon, Nukko Lake, Driftwood Creek, Colleymount, Old Remo, Leduc Marsh, Mapes, Red Rock, Strathnaver, François Lake, Topley, Mud River, Foreman, Lean-to Creek, Clemretta, Wiley, Woodpecker, Engen, Perow, Topley Landing, Babine 25 (Lake Babine Nation), Poison Creek 17A (Ts'il Kaz Koh First Nation) |
Fibre |
March 2029 |
|
CCBC-010012 (TELUS Communications Inc.) |
$24,717,100 |
Up to 2,013 |
Sumas Prairie, Blucher Hall, Barriere (Rural) Tranquille, Silverhill, Darfield, Whispering Pines 4 (Whispering Pines/Clinton Indian Band), Black Pines, Lindell, Cheam View, Rosedale, Exlou, North Thompson 1 (Simpcw First Nation), Schelowat 1 (Skwah First Nation), Vavenby, Chu Chua, Louis Creek, Louis Creek 4 (Simpcw First Nation), Spuzzum, Miracle Valley, McLure, Popkum 1 (Popkum First Nation), Cheam 1 (Cheam First Nation), Chinook Cove, Durieu, Popkum |
Fibre |
March 2029 |
|
CCBC-010019 (TELUS Communications Inc.) |
$32,554,924 |
Up to 2,925 |
Baker Creek, 100 Mile House, Marguerite, Bouchie Lake, Alexandria, Narcosli Creek, Quesnel (Rural), Kersley, Cottonwood, Lone Butte |
Fibre |
March 2029 |
|
CCBC-010029 (TELUS Communications Inc.) |
$62,779,060 |
Up to 1,578 |
Moberly Lake, Sunrise Valley, Sunset Prairie, Beryl Prairie, Bessborough, Tupper, Farmington, Progress, Fellers Heights, Arras, Parkland, Kilkerran, Upper Cutbank, Lynx Creek, West Moberly Lake 168 (West Moberly First Nation), Gundy, Briar Ridge |
Fibre |
March 2029 |
|
CCBC-020037 (TELUS Communications Inc.) |
$3,430,612 |
Up to 158 |
ɬaʔamɩn (Tla'amin Nation) |
Fibre |
December 2028 |
In addition, while still forming part of the partnership with British Columbia, the Government of Canada is funding the following six projects:
| Internet service provider | Federal funding only | Number of households to be served | Communities to benefit | Technology | Estimated completion date |
|
CCBC-050079 (Ktunaxa Nation Council Society) |
$595,282 |
39 (2 of which are Indigenous) |
Kootenay 1 (ʔaq̓am Nation), Bartholomew Lake |
Fibre |
December 2026 |
|
CCBC-020044 (CityWest Cable & Telephone Corp.) |
$1,775,342 |
236 |
Endako, Savory, Glenannan |
Fibre |
March 2027 |
|
CCBC-010017 (CityWest Cable & Telephone Corp.) |
$794,254 |
116 |
Houston (Rural), Buck Flats |
Fibre |
March 2027 |
|
CCBC-040067 (CityWest Cable & Telephone Corp.) |
$2,288,324 |
294 |
Tête Jaune Cache, Cedarside, Valemount |
Fibre |
March 2027 |
|
UBF-03495 (Shaw Cablesystems G.P.) |
$415,580 |
106 (16 of which are Indigenous) |
Lillooet, McCartney's Flat 4 (T'it'q'et) |
Fibre |
March 2027 |
|
CCBC-050076 (CityWest Cable & Telephone Corp.) |
$1,946,863 |
Up to 252 (62 of which are Indigenous) |
Upper Campbell Lake, Sidney Island, Bliss Landing, Tsa Xana 18 (Mowachaht/Muchalaht First Nations) |
Fibre |
March 2027 |
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