Canada and Ontario Increasing Access to High-Speed Internet Service in Brant County

Rural Ontarians benefitting from increased access to broadband services

December 08, 2023

Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs

Table of Contents

  1. Content
  2. Quick Facts
  3. Additional Resources
  4. Related Topics

BRANT COUNTY – The governments of Canada and Ontario are investing over $3.1 million to bring reliable high-speed internet to 1,639 families, farms, and businesses in Brant County.

“Providing reliable internet access is especially important for rural communities to prosper in our increasingly digital world,” said the Honourable Sean Fraser, Minister of Housing, Infrastructure and Communities. “Today’s announcement marks another milestone for homes, businesses, and farms in Brant County that can now connect to essential online services and enjoy the additional opportunities that come with high-speed internet.”

The federal and provincial governments have partnered with Southwestern Integrated Fibre Technology (SWIFT) Inc. to provide residents in the communities of Harrisburg, Harley, Fairfield Plain, Burtch, Newport, and Middleport with access to broadband infrastructure that will enable high-speed internet service.

“Ontario continues to deliver on its commitment to expand access to high-speed internet to communities across the province,” said Lisa Thompson, Minister of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs. “By installing new broadband infrastructure in Brant County, we’re building Ontario and strengthening rural communities. This investment is helping people stay in touch with loved ones, allowing families to connect with online services, and making it easier for businesses to reach potential customers.”

This announcement marks the completion of one more project under SWIFT and builds on the Ontario government’s plan to get the right infrastructure in the right places – ensuring people can live, work and farm where they want.

“Today, more than ever, Ontario families and businesses rely on reliable and fast internet connectivity,” said Will Bouma, MPP for Brantford-Brant. “Regardless of where you live, accessible broadband is no longer a luxury, but rather a necessity for education, work and everyday business-to-business transactions. I am happy to be part of a government that prioritizes this reality and evens the playing field for many rural communities.”

The contracts to expand broadband services in Brant County were awarded by SWIFT, a not-for-profit corporation initiated by local municipalities to address connectivity in Southwestern Ontario.

“The successful completion of the high-speed broadband project in Brant County marks a significant achievement, underscoring the effectiveness of collaborative initiatives in addressing the digital divide in Southwestern Ontario,” said Gary McNamara, SWIFT Board Chair. “These strategic infrastructure investments are set to bring lasting positive impacts, enhancing economic opportunities, expanding educational access, and improving the overall quality of life for the community.”

More than $255 million has been invested by the governments of Canada and Ontario and the private sector to bring high-speed internet access to more than 63,000 homes and businesses in Southwestern Ontario through SWIFT by the end of 2023.

Quick Facts

  • The governments of Canada and Ontario are each contributing more than $63 million to SWIFT through the New Building Canada Fund’s Provincial-Territorial Infrastructure Component – Small Communities Fund.
  • The Ontario government is investing nearly $4 billion to bring high-speed internet access to every corner of the province by the end of 2025. This is the largest single investment in high-speed internet in Canadian history.
  • In July 2021, the governments of Canada and Ontario announced a historic agreement that will bring high-speed internet access to more than 280,000 Ontario households across the province through a joint investment totaling more than $1.2 billion.
  • Ontario launched a new interactive online map that shows where provincially funded high-speed internet projects are planned, currently under way, or have been recently completed in communities across the province. Ontarians can visit Ontario.ca/highspeedinternet and search by address, community, or municipality to find out more about provincially funded high-speed internet projects and where high-speed internet service is currently available.

Additional Resources

Ontario Connects: Making High-speed Internet Accessible in Every Community

Ontario Builds: our infrastructure plan

High-Speed Access for All: Canada’s Connectivity Strategy

Related Topics

Rural and North

Information about the province’s Far North and rural communities. Get connected to business improvement organizations and learn more about funding and programs that support rural, northern and Indigenous communities. Learn more