📋 Tender Overview
Before I begin, I would like to acknowledge that we are gathered on the traditional and unceded territory of the Syilx Okanagan people. The Syilx Okanagan people signed the Okanagan Nation Declaration in 1987, confirming that they are the unconquered Aboriginal people of this land and that they have never given up their rights to the land and resources, which is what I mean when I say that I am on the unceded territory of the Syilx.
It is a real pleasure to be here with everyone again and to see so many familiar faces. When we met last year, I spoke about the importance of reconciliation to the work we do at the Commission. I spoke about the Truth and Reconciliation Commissions Calls to Action and how they are relevant to government as well as private sector actors. I also spoke about how the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous peoples applies to and guides our work at the Commission, and our role in continuing to advance reconciliation in our work, which involves considering how to close the gap in access to broadband services in Indigenous communities. But this gap does not simply exist for Indigenous communities--there is a gap in universal service level broadband availability in remote and rural areas, which you know only too well.
Last year I also discussed the ways in which the CRTC itself has begun to deliver on the spirit of our commitments to Indigenous peoples, from including reconciliation as a major part of our recently released strategic plan, to taking steps to increase Indigenous participation in our processes, to reviewing the Broadband Fund, the CRTC has begun its own reconciliation journey in earnest. Today, I want to share the progress we have made in the past year, as well as the work that is still to come. The CRTC recognizes that the digital divide still exists, but we are committed to a future where rural, remote and Indigenous peoples have all the tools they need to fully participate in todays digital economy.
Broadband Fund
I would like to start with an update on something I touched on last year: the ongoing review of the Broadband Fund. The Broadband Fund, as many of you know, is a small part of a larger Government of Canada effort to connect rural, remote and Indigenous communities. Entirely funded by the industry, it supports projects that increase access to high-speed Internet and cellphone services in rural, remote and Indigenous communities.
Last year, we launched a comprehensive review of the Fund to ensure it is closing the remaining connectivity gaps in this country in the best ways possible.
This included submissions from Indigenous and rural communities throughout the consultation process, some of whom told us we needed to be more engaged with Indigenous communities as part of the Reconciliation process. While I cannot speak on the results of that consultation at this point, I can assure you it is nearing its completion. We are hopeful to be able to share the results with you in the coming weeks. So while that review continues, let me assure you the Fund is continuing to help connect rural, remote and Indigenous communities.
Since its launch in 2019, the Broadband Fund has committed more than $719 million. This funding is helping to improve high-speed Internet and cellphone services in 270 communities and along 630 kilometres of roads across the country, connecting essential institutions such as schools, healthcare centres and community learning centres. Last year I told you about how our third call for applications was focusing specifically on our hardest-to-reach communities.
Our investments this past year display this focus. Last December we provided funding through the Broadband Fund to bring high-speed Internet service to all communities in Nunavut for the first time, as well as improved service to Indigenous communities in Northern Ontario and British Columbia. And in the past six months alone, we provided funding to connect communities to fibre Internet in Nunavut, rural Manitoba and northern Quebec. We also approved funding to improve cellphone service along major roads in the north of Ontario, Quebec and Newfoundland and Labrador.
As I mentioned last year, we plan to launch a consultation to create a new, Indigenous-specific funding stream within the program. As part of our ongoing review, we are also looking to see if we can improve the Fund to make the process easier and faster for applicants to apply for and receive funding.
Tools and engagement
Additionally, we know our rural, remote and Indigenous communities often face unique challenges that require unique solutions. We need to ensure that the distinct nature and lived experiences of Indigenous peoples, and their Indigenous rights, are considered across all of our work. In the past year, we have begun to put in place tools and methods that can foster greater engagement between the CRTC and Indigenous communities, as well as improving the ways in which those communities can participate in our processes. For example, we recognize the need for greater guidance on how we can navigate issues that affect Indigenous communities as we support telecommunications infrastructure projects. We need to ensure that projects align with Indigenous peoples values and to ensure that the community is able to participate in the project - financially or in-kind - as contemplated in our original Broadband Fund decision (2018-377). Thats why earlier this year we launched the Indigenous Relations Team within the CRTC. The team will support Indigenous participation in CRTC proceedings and engagement on the issues that matter to them.
