Labour, internet access among the challenges in rural communities discussed at Recognizing Rural Canada event in Ottawa
Reading Time: 2 minutes The problem of rural connectivity had a moment in the spotlight in Ottawa in late April. Politicians and business leaders highlighted the issue during the Recognizing Rural Communities discussion, led by former MP Candice Bergen. The event featured two panels. Bergen said federal politicians must better understand that Canada has a diversity of rural communities […] Read more
Push continues for rural connectivity at Ottawa event
Labour, internet access among the challenges in rural communities discussed at Recognizing Rural Canada event
Pandemic pushes rural internet speeds to the breaking point
Notoriously slow already, rural internet has struggled with increased demand during the pandemic — and that isn’t likely to change any time soon
Reading Time: 6 minutes The internet on Monika Benoit’s northern Alberta farm was bad enough before the pandemic. Now it’s almost “non-existent.” “We sigh a lot,” said Benoit, who farms with husband Mike near High Prairie. “Even when there’s not a pandemic, we have internet issues. But with the isolation and social distancing protocols we’re supposed to be following, […] Read more
Rationing internet a pandemic side-effect
Streaming a dream in rural Alberta as download speeds slow to a trickle
Reading Time: 3 minutes The pandemic has created an unwelcome blast from the past for rural Albertans dealing with internet speeds not seen since the days of dial-up. “I can see downtown Calgary from my window right now, and I feel like I’m in the sticks,” said Shelagh Blatz, who lives near Priddis. “I’m so close to Calgary, but […] Read more
Fast internet? An urban reality but a rural myth
The CRTC has cut its rural internet speed targets in half — calling it ‘a significant first step’
Reading Time: 3 minutes It’s an issue that big-city bureaucrats can’t seem to wrap their heads around — an internet connection spread so thin that it’s nearly unusable during peak hours. But in rural Alberta, it’s an all-too-common problem. “The connection gets weaker and weaker the further you get away from the main corridor,” said Al Kemmere, president of […] Read more
Nova Scotia pledges food donation tax credit in budget
A tax credit for Nova Scotia farmers who donate produce to local food banks is among the policy plans laid out in the province’s latest budget. Finance Minister Randy Delorey’s budget on Tuesday showed an overall $17.1 million net surplus position on $10.15 billion in total expenses and $10.26 billion in total revenues (minus $110.3 […] Read more
Digital divide set to fall?
Company says all of rural Canada will have access to high speed by July 2017
Reading Time: 3 minutes There finally appears to be light at the end of the tunnel for rural Canadians fed up with slow, inconsistent, or unavailable Internet service. New Brunswick-based Xplornet Communications recently announced it will offer high-speed, 25-megabytes-per-second (mbps) Internet service to all Canadians by July 2017, a move that may finally destroy the urban-rural digital divide. “To […] Read more
Cyber-Savvy Farmer
