Editorial: High-speed

EDITORIAL High speed? High time

If there has been one consistent message sent to all levels of government these past few years it’s that now, more than ever, we need reliable high-speed internet. When March, 2020 happened — the height of the pandemic-induced shut down in Ontario — the need was only intensified.

Maybe, finally, governments are listening.

The federal government — the branch of government with the biggest wallet — originally announced $1 billion in its 2019 budget for this very cause. Last month, additional funding of $750 million for the so-called Universal Broadband Fund was added to help advance these much-needed projects.

The government will target households and businesses in underserved communities over the next six years. This includes a $150-million “rapid response stream” for the money, with an accelerated application process.

Canada has long been a satellite powerhouse, which is why another investment of $600 million with Canadian satellite company Telesat is welcome news, especially for largely rural areas like Kawartha Lakes. This initiative will improve connectivity and expand high-speed internet coverage to the far north, rural and remote regions across Canada.

Now, Kawartha Lakes may be a far cry from northern Ontario or areas in our far north, but anyone in this far-flung city knows the dead zones of connectivity are frustrating for students, teachers and parents trying to work from home. It is also career-limiting for those who may want to call this area home.

The CRTC declared broadband internet a basic telecommunications service back in 2016. Yet its own numbers showed just 41 per cent of rural Canadian households have access to suitable download speeds.

Mayor Andy Letham has been pushing hard for more funding and has used his pulpit as chair of the Eastern Ontario Wardens’ Caucus to hammer home this need. The province has come through with some funding to help. But this federal money could be the game-changer we all need it to be.

LETTER SPOTLIGHT

Missing the ‘loopers’

Ron and Eva Stob established the American Great Looper Cruise Association in 1990, starting the loop in the United States and entering Canada after boating in Bobcaygeon. They never dreamed in 2020, some 30 years later would be the first time U.S. loopers could not enter the Trent-Severn Waterway, due to COVID-19.

The Trent-Severn Waterway (TSW) did not see any of the approximately 275 looper boats that usually grace our waterway. The minimum recommended boat size is 11.3 metres to travel the 10,000-km, 12-month journey using up to $30,000 in fuel.

Helping loopers at various stops are “harbour hosts” who greet loopers in their town, and provide local information and assistance from taxi services, eye doctors, groceries, restaurants and a host of other services. Our Water Street Clothesline shop is a must stop on the loopers’ list for gifts and souvenirs.

For us it’s an honour as the official harbour host for Buckhorn Lock 31, Bobcaygeon Lock 32 and Fenelon Falls Lock 34 to serve the loopers and guide them to various other businesses for goods or services they need. With the closure of the U.S. border in 2020, we have really missed our looper friends as texts and emails are just not the same. We are hopeful we will see them back on the TSW, which has become a looper favourite, in the summer of 2021. Pam Vaters, Bobcaygeon