Federal plan will take 10 years to complete.   Ottawa—The allocation of $600 million by the federal government to improve internet service to rural areas and the North is a welcome move, says Mary Robinson, President of the Canadian Federation of Agriculture. The funding was in addition to $750 million funding for the Universal Broadband Fund, announced in the 2019 budget to expand highspeed internet service across the country, she said. “These investments are crucial for Canadian farmers, as rural broadband is a key, foundational step that will allow them to take advantage of cutting-edge technology.” The Universal Broadband Fund is predicted to provide 98 per cent high-speed internet coverage by 2026, and 100 per cent by 2030. A $150 million allocation from the fund will be available immediately for projects. “With COVID-19 pushing many services to only be available online, rural broadband is a problem that can no longer be ignored,” Robinson said. “Not only is this technology crucial for modern business, it is essential to attracting the next generation of farmers who see high-speed connectivity as an essential service for every day life. “The more quickly this coverage is implemented, the faster Canadian farmers can adopt new technologies that can help unleash the real potential of Canadian agriculture,” she said. “With these kinds of programs and the proper support, Canadian agriculture can be a powerful economic engine for Canada's recovery." In announcing the new funding, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said too many communities lack proper internet service. The government is working with the Canada Infrastructure Bank to get projects moving and with Telesat to use satellites for remote regions. While the Chamber of Commerce (CCC) and the Federation of Canadian Municipalities (FCM) welcomed the announcement, John Nater, Conservative Rural Economic Development critic, said Canadians are still waiting for action. “For months, families have been unable to connect with loved ones and small businesses have been unable to support their customers simply because they don't have access to high enough speed internet.” Nearly one million Canadians “don't have internet access at home, much less a reliable cell phone signal,” he said. “They deserve a real plan. The Trudeau Liberals have also failed to address cell phone prices. It's long past time to cut red tape and over regulation so that Canadians benefit from more affordable plans.” NDP telecommunications critic Brian Masse said the plan “gives no clear plan of delivery or timeline. In Canada, 63 percent of rural households do not have access to high speed broadband and 14 percent of highways and major transport roads in the country do not have access to LTE wireless services. Meaning people needing help on these roads are left unable to ask for help.” He said Canadians have waited long enough for the affordable and reliable internet access they desperately need.” Ray Orb, FCM's Rural Forum Chair, said, “It's time for rural municipalities across the country to have reliable internet access. This is about making sure local businesses have the tools they need to succeed and that families can access quality healthcare and education. Entire communities rely on internet to connect and grow, we need to get to work on bridging Canada's connectivity gap.” Ulrike Bahr-Gedalia, CCC's Senior Director of Digital Economy, said, “The announcement will help the 59.2 per cent Canadians in rural communities who still do not have access to high-speed internet. With the increase in remote work and services moving online at an accelerated speed, broadband access has become a must-have for all Canadians.” Alex Binkley is a freelance journalist and writes for domestic and international publications about agriculture, food and transportation issues. He's also the author of two science fiction novels with more in the works.