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Canadian government announces funding for Saskatoon electric bus fleet

The City of Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, will soon be one step closer to realizing its greenhouse gas reduction targets. The Government of Canada has confirmed an investment of $336,000 into the electrification of Saskatoon Transit vehicles. This funding is in addition to the $84,000 being contributed by the municipality.

According to the news release, Saskatoon Transit will create a five-phase strategy to best transition to a fully electric arsenal. Costs, infrastructure and resource requirements, and risk assessments are all on the table for review.

The initiative “will provide quieter, cleaner transit options to the city’s residents,” according to The Honourable Dominic LeBlanc, Minister of Intergovernmental Affairs, Infrastructure and Communities.

The funding results from the Zero Emission Transit Fund launched in 2021. The government’s transit infrastructure investment looks to support city buses’ transition to an all-electric lineup in the coming years.

Header image credit: Shutterstock

Source: Government of Canada

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Mobile Syrup

Alberta’s E3 Lithium gets $27 million in support from the government

The Government of Canada has announced a new $27 million strategic investment in Calgary-based E3 Lithium that aims to create more jobs for Canadians, reduce greenhouse gas emissions and achieve net zero by 2050.

E3 Lithium has developed a technology that allows it to extract lithium from oilfield brines. The extracted lithium is then refined into lithium hydroxide, which is used in lithium-ion batteries that power electric vehicles (EVs).

The investment in E3 Lithium will help create battery-grade lithium in Canada and add to the domestic EV battery supply chain, essentially aiding in the country’s transition to an electric and net zero emission sector.

“This investment will support E3 Lithium’s $87 million project for the construction of a demonstration plant specializing in lithium production,” wrote the government in a media release. “This facility will be the first step toward a full-scale lithium production plant that will produce up to 20,000 tonnes of battery-grade lithium. This will enable the development of a sustainable, long-term source of lithium supply, which is critical to building electric vehicles and an anchor in the North American supply chain.”

Lithium demand is expected to increase by 500 percent by 2050 due to growing demand in an increasingly electric society.

E3’s Preseidnet and CEO Chris Doornbos has this to say about the investment:

“The breadth of the development costs this funding covers contributes significantly to the de-risking of our end-to-end project development as we progress towards a commercial facility producing battery-grade lithium in Alberta. The Canadian government has committed to supporting the critical minerals supply chain. Growing local Canadian supply begins with the raw materials, and Alberta has a significant part to play in that future.”

As shared by CTV News, E3 has already drill-tested wells at Alberta’s Leduc oilfield region and aims to have a field pilot project up and running by next year. Imperial Oil has also made a strategic investment in E3 Lithium.

Image credit: E3 Lithium

Source: Government of Canada

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Mobile Syrup

Bell awarded contract to bring high-speed internet to 694 households in Newfoundland and Labrador

The Governments of Canada and Newfoundland and Labrador have awarded Bell a contract to bring high-speed internet to 694 households in the province.

The rural communities of Charlottetown, Lodge Bay, Mary’s Harbour, Port Hope Simpson and Red Bay will benefit.

The project is part of the $136 million joint investment the two governments announced in February. The Universal Broadband Fund (UBF) provides $116 for the investment, and the government of Newfoundland and Labrador is investing $20 million.

It’s not clear how much the individual contract will cost.

“Providing Newfoundlanders and Labradorians with reliable high-speed internet access is a priority,” Lisa Dempster, the province’s Minister responsible for Indigenous Affairs Reconciliation and Labrador Affairs, said.

“Our $136 million collaboration with the federal government demonstrates our commitment to making this a reality for areas throughout the province, including the Labrador communities announced today.”

The two governments have made similar announcements under this investment for the Rigolet, Postville, Phillips Head and Point of Bay communities. The governments awarded Bell contracts for these communities as well.

Source: Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada

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Mobile Syrup

June roundup: network expansions in Canada

Telecom companies, internet service providers (ISPs) and various government bodies have made a number of expansion announcements over the past month.

To help you keep track of them all, MobileSyrup has put together a roundup. You can also check the announcements out on the map below.

Government

June 2: The governments of Canada and PEI invest $10 million to bring high-speed internet to all PEI homes. 

June 3: The federal government grants Xplornet and Rogers millions to bring high-speed internet to 11,000 homes in New Brunswick. 

June 30: The federal government and the Province of Quebec invest $8.2 million to bring high-speed internet to 25 rural communities.

Telus

June 3: Telus invests $10 million to bring its PureFibre network to Chaudière-Appalaches, Quebec. 

June 9: The telecom provider announced it’s expanding its PureFibre network to Quebec’s Granit region. 

June 10: Telus announced it would continue to expand its 5G network in Kamloops and Osoyoos and Oliver, B.C. 

June 17: Telus shared it will deploy its 3500MHz spectrum. It’s available in several areas, including Toronto and Montreal. 

TekSavvy

June 8: The ISP announced the national availability of its Unified Communications solution 

Bell

June 10: The company announced it would expand its pure fibre internet services to London, Ontario.

June 15: Bell announced details to deploy 5G+, which utilizes the 3500MHz spectrum. 

Rogers

June 15: The Toronto-based telecom provider announced it was the first to deploy the 3500MHz spectrum in Canada. 

Mage Network

June 21: The company received $500,000 to bring high-speed internet to 280 households in West Bragg Creek, Alberta.

Eastlink

June 23: Eastlink announced it’s ready to install fibre in Mindemoya, Ontario, bringing high-speed internet access to 321 households.

Shaw

June 30: Shaw launches a new internet tier for businesses starting at $195 a month.

Image credit: Shutterstock

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Mobile Syrup

Canada and Quebec invest millions to bring high-speed internet to 25 rural communities

The federal government and the Province of Quebec have committed to bringing high-speed internet to 25 rural communities in the province.

The $8.2 million in combined funding will go towards contracts for four different service providers.

Bell will receive a contract worth $1.2 million to bring access to the communities of Fatima, Innue Essipit, Lac-Légaré, Les Escoumins, Pointe-à-Boisvert, Rivière-Sainte-Marguerite and Sacré-Cœur.

Coopérative de câblodistribution de l’arrière-pays (CCAP) received a contract worth $181,000 to bring high-speed internet to the community of Stoneham-et-Tewkesbury.

The governments awarded Coopérative de télécommunication SJM with a $98,000 contract to benefit the the community of Saint-Jacques-le-Majeur-de-Wolfestown.

Sogetel received the largest contract, worth $6.7 million, to bring high-speed internet to more than a dozen communities, including Breault and Nicolet.

The two governments have previously announced similar investments — in May, they each contributed nearly $200,000 to bring high-speed internet services to 55 rural households in Quebec.  

“Since 2015, the Government of Canada has committed $7.2 billion to connect rural Canadians, including many in Indigenous communities, to better, faster internet,” Gudie Hutchings, Minister of Rural Economic Development, said.

“We will continue making investments like these in rural and remote communities to help connect every single Canadian to high-speed internet.”

Image credit: Shutterstock

Source: Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada

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Mobile Syrup

May roundup: network expansions in Canada

Aerial view of mobiel phone cell tower over forested rural area of West Virginia to illustrate lack of broadband internet service

The Government of Canada has a goal to connect 98 percent of the country’s residents with high-speed internet by 2026.

This has resulted in a barrage of funding announcements, often through partnerships with provincial governments, over the past month. Telecom companies have also been making similar announcements to advance their networks throughout the country.

To help MobileSyrup readers keep track of the May announcements, we’ve broken down the details below and provided a map to help make everything easier to visualize.

Government

May 10: The Government of Quebec announced high-speed internet access for 10,000 homes in the province, courtesy of Starlink. The government-funded project is worth $50 million.

May 13: The Government of Canada paid Starlink $1.04 million to connect hundreds of rural Manitoba homes with high-speed internet.

May 20: The federal government and the Province of British Columbia invested $108 million to bring high-speed internet to 14,000 households. 

May 27: The Governments of Canada and Quebec invested nearly $400,000 to bring high-speed internet services to 55 rural households.

Telus

May 17: The Vancouver-based company announced $17 billion in investments for network infrastructure, operations, and spectrum in Alberta over the next four years.

May 24: Telus announced it will invest $11 billion towards network infrastructure, operations, and spectrum across Quebec over the next four years.

May 26: Telus announced it will bring its 5G and PureFibre networks to the Lower St. Lawrence region through a $20 million investment.

May 27: The company invested $8 million to bring its PureFibre and 5G networks to the Innu community of Ekuanitshit and the municipalities of Longue-Pointe-de-Mingan and Port-Menier.

Bell

May 31: Bell expanded its fibre internet services to 20,000 locations across 25 communities in New Brunswick.

Image credit: Shutterstock

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Mobile Syrup

Joint funding from governments of Canada and B.C. to bring high-speed internet to thousands

The Governments of Canada and British Columbia have announced millions in funding to improve internet and mobile connectivity for residents in the province.

The $108 million in combined funding will bring high-speed internet access to 14,000 households and mobile connectivity to seven rural communities.

“We need to close the connectivity gap and ensure that every nook and cranny of British Colombia has access to reliable high-speed internet,” Gudie Hutchings, Minister of Rural Economic Development, said. “Investments like these help create jobs, improve access to health care and online learning services, enhance safety and keep us connected to our loved ones.”

The funding is part of a partnership the two governments announced in March to invest $830 million for high-speed internet projects in rural, remote, and Indigenous communities across the province.

The federal government is in a similar partnership with the Province of Ontario. The two governments announced $1.2 billion in funding for high-speed internet projects in July 2021.

More details on communities that will benefit from the partnership in B.C. are on the government’s website.

Image credit: Shutterstock

Source: Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada

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Mobile Syrup

April roundup: network expansions in Canada

Aerial view of mobile phone cell tower to illustrate lack of broadband internet service in rural areas and need for investment

Companies regularly make announcements detailing network expansions across Canada. While this is a step in the right direction, it’s challenging to keep track of all the projects.

To make it easier, MobileSyrup has put together a list of all network expansion projects made by telecom companies and government bodies alike and added them to a map you can access below.

Bell

April 1: Bell expands its fibre internet to Amherstburg, Ontario.

April 21: The company announces it will expand its pure fibre internet to Guelph, Ontario, impacting 44,000 homes and businesses.

Rogers

April 4: Rogers adds two more cell towers to its project closing the wireless gap along the Highway of Tears, bringing the total to 14.

April 19: The company announces it will release internet with 8Gbps speeds this summer in Ontario, New Brunswick, and Newfoundland.

April 21: Rogers launches internet with 2.5Gbps for select customers.

Government of Canada

April 4: The federal government announced $20 a month internet for eligible seniors and low-income families through a partnership with 14 internet service providers.

April 19: The Governments of Canada and Ontario pledge $56 million for rural internet services.

April 22: The federal government invests more than a million dollars in funding high-speed internet access for rural Newfoundland and Labrador residents.

April 22: The Government of Canada invests $145 million to improve rural internet access in Ontario.

April 26: The government of Canada and Ontario detail $260 million for high-speed internet access in the province.

April 27: The federal government announces $5 million in funding for an internet project in Alberta.

Xplornet

April 5: The rural broadband provider completes its acquisition of Full Throttle Networks as it expands its presence in Manitoba.

April 8: Xplornet expands its fibre network to 270 homes in Vernon Bridge, PEI and surrounding communities.

April 21: The company starts construction on a broadband project in Brant County, Ontario, funded by the governments of Canada and Ontario and Southwestern Integrated Fibre Technology (SWIFT).

TekSavvy

April 11: The ISP completes its fibre-to-the-home network in Thamesville, Ontario.

April 12: TekSavvy launches its fibre network in Wallaceburg, Ontario.

SaskTel

April 13: The company pledges $337 million worth of initiatives for Saskatchewan that will take place in 2022-2023.

Develop Nova Scotia

April 22: The provincial crown corporation is working with Eastlink and Bell to bring high-speed internet to 400 homes and businesses in Nova Scotia.

Image credit: Shutterstock

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Governments of Canada and Ontario announce $56 million investment for rural internet services

Canada and Ontario flags in front of skyscrapers in Toronto

The governments of Canada and Ontario will collectively provide $56 million in funding to bring high-speed internet to 6,500 homes.

Funding will cover six projects in First Nation communities and homes in rural northern and southwestern Ontario.

The move is part of both governments initiatives to bring high-speed internet to residence across the province.

“Reliable high-speed internet allows us to learn, attend school and work remotely, and it allows small businesses to serve customers. But too many rural communities still do not have access to high-speed Internet,” Chrystia Freeland, Deputy Prime Minister, said. “Broadband access is critical for our country’s economic growth and recovery, and our government is committed to making sure no community is left behind.”

The two governments also shared details Tuesday relating to a $1.2 billion funding announcement they collectively made in July 2021. The money will bring high-speed internet to nearly 280,000 rural Ontario households.

  • Bell received seven contracts totalling more than $173 million to bring high-speed internet to roughly 28,155 homes.
  • Cogeco was awarded five contracts valued at $23.8 million to bring internet to 4,482 households.
  • Digital Infrastructure Group received one contract worth $45 million to benefit 13,448 households.
  • Execulink Telecom was awarded one contract worth $3.6 million to benefit 656 homes.
  • Huron Telecommunications Co-operative received five contracts valued at roughly $4.5 million to bring high-speed internet to 897 households.
  • Keewaytinook Okimakanak received two contracts worth $59.4 million to benefit 3,242 households.
  • Matawa First Nations Management received one contract worth $62.6 million to benefit 689 households.
  • Mornington Communications received one contract valued at $11.6 million to bring high-speed internet to 1,390 homes.
  • Quadro Communications was awarded three contracts worth $3.8 million to benefit 558 homes.
  • Tuckersmith Communications received a contract worth $10.6 million to bring high-speed internet to 1,191 homes.
  • Vianet received $352,850 to help 117 homes.

Image credit: Shutterstock

Source: Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada

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Mobile Syrup

March roundup: network expansions in Canada

OTTAWA, CANADA – NOVEMBER 10, 2018: Canada Wordmark, the official logo of the Canadian government, on an administrative building next to a Canadian flag waiving

Government bodies and telecom companies invest millions in projects across Canada every month.

The map below categorizes these updates by carrier and funding body.

Telus

March 2nd: Telus launches Wi-Fi 6 and Wi-Fi Plus to its customers in Western Canada.

March 3rd: The Vancouver-based telecom company rolls out the first phase of next-generation 911 services in Alberta and B.C.

March 23rd: The company uses its Smart Hub technology and 5G network to bring internet speeds up to 100 Mbps in 60 communities in Alberta and B.C.

March 30th: Telus invests $110 million to bring its PureFibre X network to Coquitlam and kʷikʷəƛ̓əm (Kwikwetlem) First Nation in B.C.

Rogers

March 7th: Eastern Ontario Regional Network (EORN) and Rogers extend 5G access to 10 Eastern Ontario communities, including Pembroke and Mississippi Mills.

March 28th: Rogers launches a standalone commercial 5G network.

SaskTel

March 10th: The Saskatchewan-based company expanded its 5G network in Saskatoon.

March 29th: SaskTel launched infiNET 600 and infiNET 1 Gig in communities with its infiNET service, allowing for faster download speeds.

Eastlink

March 16th: Powered through Ericsson’s radio access network, Eastlink launched its first 5G network in Halifax.

Access Communications

March 17th: The company launched its ultra-fast internet in eight Saskatchewan communities.

E.H.!tel Networks

March 24th: The company is working on a project to bring high-speed internet to the Region of Waterloo.

Government bodies

March 24th: The governments of Canada and Newfoundland invest $22 million to bring high-speed internet to 1,000 households in rural Labrador.

March 28th: The Government of B.C. is investing $3.1 million to improve cellular coverage along Highway 3. Rogers will serve as the provider.

March 29th: The CRTC allocated $19.5 million t0 broadband projects in 10 communities in Alberta and B.C.

Bell

March 29th: Bell announced plans to expand its fibre internet to 21,000 homes and businesses in Pickering, Ontario.

Image credit: Shutterstock