An internet speed test available on Google - Photo by Colton McKee

By Charles Lefebvre

Candidates weigh in on Internet access for rural Canadians

Oct 3, 2019 | 4:08 PM

MEDICINE HAT, AB — The subject of accessible Internet and affordable cellphone bills has appeared several times on the campaign trail at the federal level.

Multiple parties have promised if they are elected to improve access to Internet services for all Canadians, as well as tackle cell phone affordability.

According to the Canadian Internet Registration Authority, while 100 per cent of homes and businesses in urban centres have access to high-speed Internet, the number is only 85 per cent of homes and businesses in rural areas.

The issue has made its way to the campaign trail in Medicine Hat-Cardston-Warner during Wednesday evening’s election forum hosted by the Medicine Hat and District Chamber of Commerce.

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“What strategies will your party commit to in order to ensure Canada can seize opportunities in the digital age?” was asked to all four candidates participating in the forum.

Andrew Nelson, representing the People’s Party of Canada, says access to technology is important to those living in the rural parts of the riding.

“I believe in technology. I think it has great opportunities for us,” he told the crowd. “I think that in our riding, it’s a real disappointment for us that live out in rural areas, because we don’t have it. Your working off a hub, you’re working off a slow dial-up. I think we may need for our riding, we need to have it more equitable for everyone.”

The Liberal Party’s Harris Kirshenbaum says Canada has always been a leader in communication, and says more satellites providing local internet is a future possibility.

“Local internet by satellite, right down to rural properties, is in the very imminent future, and it will be there,” he said. “So I think it’s certainly absolutely an essential service, it will be there, it’s coming.”

The Liberal Party has proposed in its election platform universal high speed internet by 2030, though information about the cost of the plan is not listed.

Elizabeth Thomson with the NDP says the party has specifically put in its platform a commitment to improve Internet access for rural Canadians. The party has also committed to lowering cell phone bills for Canadians, by requiring companies to offer a basic plan and forcing them to end data caps.

“People in Canada are paying $100, $200, $300 dollars for our cellphone bills, data rates are through the roof, and it’s just unacceptable,” she said.

Glen Motz, running for the Conservative Party, says his party has advocated for increased connectivity for rural Canadians, and echoed Nelson’s concerns about rural Internet access.

“There are businesses in this riding, in rural Canada, who require high-speed internet capacity to perform their businesses appropriately, and because they live in rural Canada, they should not be penalized because they live in rural Canada, other than urban Canada, so they need connectivity,” he said.

While candidate Shannon Hawthorne was not in attendance, the Green Party’s platform is advocating for affordable, high speed Internet for Canadians.

Voters go to the polls on October 21.