Members of the provincial and federal government met in Armstrong today, Monday, July 28, to announce their partnership with TELUS in providing high-speed internet to rural and Indigenous areas across the province.
The announcement was made at Caravan Farm Theatre by the Secretary of State (Rural Development), Buckley Belanger, along with B.C.’s Minister of Citizens’ Service, Diana Gibson.
“Access to the internet is no longer a luxury, but a necessity,” Belanger said.
Belanger added that providing high-speed internet and mobile connectivity aims to support small businesses, local schools, day cares, health care centres, Indigenous communities and residents living in remote areas.
“This is not about Netflix buffering, it’s about families staying connected,” he said.
Gibson emphasized the vitality of accessible internet, and it is how communities thrive.
“B.C. has been working to connect every household and we’ve been making progress, but of course there is much more to do.”
Mayor of Spallumcheen, Christine Fraser reflected on the Hullcar Mountain wildfire, the fast-growing blaze that prompted evacuations and road closures in 2024.
“Imagine being on evacuation order and not getting any information,” she said. “It [internet] is a lifeline in time of emergency.”
She held up a map of the Northern Township of Spallumcheen that was not previously covered by the internet. She mentioned how some of her teams have had difficult times accessing the web.
“It’s [internet] a luxury I think lots of people take for granted.”
The overall announcement was made to residents in rural communities to expect accessible, affordable, and fast-working internet.
TELUS Chief Communications Officer, Jill Schnarr said the provider has invested billions in development and will bring new investments to support these communities and regions.
“A young person can take college courses from home, a grandmother can stay in touch with her family, small businesses can be wherever they want to be,” she said.
During the question period, a concern was made of TELUS, being the main internet service provider (ISP) of this program, could create challenges with smaller ISP’s.
A question, that no direct answer was provided by speakers.
Each speaker emphasized the importance of internet across the province and how they aim to provide high-speed internet to 100 per cent of B.C. households within the next five years.
