Brockville — Gord Brown, Member of Parliament for Leeds-Grenville, and Bob Runciman, Member of Provincial Parliament for Leeds-Grenville, today announced that the construction of a broadband network is a step closer in Eastern Ontario. The Government of Canada and the Province of Ontario have together set aside up to $110 million for the project. 

The federal and provincial governments have a long-standing commitment to increasing broadband access across Ontario. This new funding builds on the government’s significant investments to spur innovation, attract investment and build a skilled workforce.

“High-speed Internet access could not have come at a better time for the residents of Leeds-Grenville,” says Brown.  It helps connect us with the world. The construction of a broadband network in Eastern Ontario will help to expand and improve local businesses and their services, and significantly boost our regional economy.”

“The economic benefits of giving the residents of Leeds-Grenville quicker access to online information, which include easier access to local available job postings and business opportunities, are endless,” adds Runciman.

Demonstrating their commitment to stimulating the economy and creating jobs, both the governments of Canada and Ontario are moving forward with a number of large scale infrastructure programs to assist Ontarians when they need it most.

The Government of Canada’s 2009 Economic Action Plan is accelerating and expanding the existing federal investment of $33 billion in infrastructure across Canada with almost $12 billion in new infrastructure stimulus funding over the next two years.

Through the 2009 Ontario Budget – Confronting the Challenge: Building Our Economic Future – the province is investing $32.5 billion in infrastructure for the province of Ontario over the next two years, including a $5 billion contribution from the federal government that will support more than 300,000 jobs and strengthen Ontario’s economy.