Thank you to the member for the question.

We are making incredible progress in terms of connecting every single premise in the province of Ontario by the end of 2025. To date, we have committed $2.2 billion to nearly 200 high-speed Internet and cellular projects across the province.

This month, the member from Brampton West, in partnership with the federal government, was able to announce $13 million for high-speed Internet projects in eastern Ontario and $48 million in York region. This will connect 10,000 premises in 40 different communities. And I just want to thank my parliamentary assistant for his help in making sure that no one is left behind.

This month, we again joined the federal government in terms of announcing $61 million to bring high-speed Internet to 16,000 homes in 47 different communities, including three First Nation communities. Communities such as Pickle Lake, Iroquois Falls and O’Connor will now be connected.

I want to thank my northern members, but in particular the Minister of Northern Development for his help, working with my ministry to address challenges in the north and to make sure that we got it right.

Thank you very much to the member opposite for raising a really important issue in the province of Ontario, one that our government has tackled with a very significant investment of $4 billion.

Mr. Speaker, I agree with the member. I think it’s absolutely critical in order for every single person in the province of Ontario to be connected to high-speed Internet, no matter where they live.

We have worked with the federal government. We have established a partnership to the tune of $1.3 billion. We are now focusing all of our energies to connect the remaining 40,000 to 60,000 premises, and we will get it done.

Thank you so much to the member opposite for that question. I know how important it is for the members of your community.

Prior to COVID, we had 700,000 residents—constituents—across the province that did not have access to high-speed Internet. Our government invested $4 billion to make sure that we connect everyone in the province of Ontario by the end of 2025. Mr. Speaker, that includes investments into SWIFT and EORN. We also worked and developed a partnership with the federal government to the tune of $1.3 billion. All of those investments will connect 375,000 people in the province.

This was such an innovative process that we actually won a silver medal in the CCPPP conference for innovation and excellence. We have 40,000 to 60,000 premises to go and we will not stop until every single person is connected in the province of Ontario.

Madame Gallagher Murphy moved first reading of the following bill:

Bill 70, An Act to proclaim the month of June as Seniors Month / Projet de loi 70, Loi proclamant le mois de juin Mois des personnes âgées.