21 rural Sask. communities slated for high-speed internet

Many people work, play, socialize, shop, and bank on the internet.

It’s nearly ubiquitous in everyday life, often, calling businesses or government offices will instead direct you to visit their website — but what about those rural and northern communities with little or no internet access.

This week, 21 communities in Saskatchewan were announced to be getting improved internet access, thanks to money and a partnership between the federal government and FlexNetworks.

About $15 million will be spent on this — $11.2 million from the federal government in the three year old Connect to Innovate program, while FlexNetworks will add in about $3.7 million

FlexNetworks will build the infrastructure for the network, with residents able to choose their provider once everything is said and done.

The resort village of Thode, near Dundurn, is one of the communities on the list.

Mayor Alan Thomarat said the internet access there is so bad he just uses his phone as a mobile hotspot when he wants to get online.

Thomarat said at the announcement that people live and work differently now, and access to high speed internet is a necessity.

“We’d seen advances in the bigger cities with Infinet and different applications that are being offered in the city, that’s not the case in many of these (communities) that do participate in the economy of the cities but don’t have benefits,” said Thomarat.

He said that 15 years ago the residents in the village were primarily seasonal, but not anymore. He said there are many young families living in resort communities all year now.

“We see all of these community, the census metropolitan areas around Saskatoon and Regina, are growing consistently, and it’s young families that are going to populate these communities for years, and so we need these services and we’ve very grateful to the government for stepping up.”

It’s not just personal needs that made the internet problem so great. Thomarat said faster internet is important for the village’s economic development and tourism, developing and executing emergency measures, and for multiple municipal aid programs.

He said this really helps to stitch all of that together.

The communities include: Amazon, Arlington Beach, Bradwell, Colesdale Park, Etters Beach, Glen Harbour, Island View, Kannata Valley, Mohr’s Beach, North Colesdale Park, Pelican Pointe, Renown, Shields, Simpson, Sorenson’s Beach, Spring Bay, Thode, Uhl’s Bay, Venn, Waterpark Estates and Zelma.

Ralph Goodale represented the federal government in this announcement. He said the government wants to have even the most challenging rural and northern areas connected by 2030.

“Essential infrastructure in this day and age includes not only streets and highways and transit and water systems and affordable housing, it also includes access to reliable, affordable high-speed internet service. It’s not a frill, it’s a necessity,” said Goodale.

FlexNetworks said its schedule it to have this project completed by Dec 2021.