e-3131 (Media and telecommunications)

Petition to the Government of Canada

• The Municipality of Denholm, Quebec, is located in the Ottawa Valley, just 55 kilometres north of the National Capital;
• About 30% of our municipality is covered by a satellite Internet system that is totally inadequate and very expensive;
• Most of the time, we have trouble connecting and staying connected;
• Many of us would like to be able to work, study, be entertained, etc., from home;
• It is completely unacceptable that, as 2021 dawns, we cannot, for example, complete online transactions, telework or even communicate virtually with our loved ones during the pandemic;
• All this hampers the development of our community;
• Some years ago, the government announced subsidies to connect communities that were not connected or to improve services for others;
• Most of these subsidies were provided to the major industry player, but the results have fallen short;
• Likewise, cellular coverage is wholly deficient;
• Barely 20% of our area receives a signal;
• It is imperative that the providers of this service meet our needs; and
• In addition, the current conventional telephone system is outdated, costly and constantly down.