In the context of the COVID-19 pandemic, Salaberry-Suroît MP Claude DeBellefeuille and the Bloc Québécois are calling on the federal government to increase internet accessibility for all.
In a letter sent on April 14 to Navdeep Bains, the Minister of Innovation, Science and Industry, DeBellefeuille described how government and public health measures have brought internet accessibility issues to the forefront. “The COVID-19 crisis is leading us to adapt our professional environments, particularly as we work from home. Demand for online entertainment has exploded. Access to federal assistance programs is greatly facilitated by internet access. In short, the current network is not able to respond to the exceptional demand for high-speed internet.”
DeBellefeuille is now asking that solutions be implemented as soon as possible. “Not a week goes by without citizens of Salaberry-Suroît challenging us on this issue,” she said. As such, the Bloc Québécois is asking the government to recognize high-speed internet access as an essential service in 2020. The Bloc suggests forcing providers to cap the cost of internet services and cellular plans and to eliminate monthly data limits on such plans. The party also wants the federal government to commit to accelerating the deployment of fibre optic cable, or any other appropriate technology, to better enable internet access in underserved areas as soon as possible.
“As long as people are required to remain confined in their homes for public health reasons, it should be anticipated they will need access to technological services whether for work, study, or to simply stay in touch with loved ones. High-speed internet in not even an option for many people in the region. This is not acceptable in 2020,” DeBellefeuille declared. (S.R.)