View From the Legislature

For many years, the cellular coverage in southeastern Manitoba has been a concern to residents. It is not only an inconvenience for residents who have a difficult time getting service, it has, in times of emergencies like fires, been a significant safety concern. While there is a great deal of work to be done to improve cellular service in this area of the province, this week another step forward was taken.

On Monday, our government and Bell MTS announced further improvements to Bell MTS’s wireless LTE networks in southeast Manitoba. This will help bring faster, more reliable communication tools to rural areas, which comes with a variety of benefits. Bell MTS has continued to invest significant funding into improving network coverage across Manitoba, and this is another important announcement for the rural communities that will benefit. Bell MTS is investing $1 billion over five years to bring next-generation communications to Manitobans.

This follows in the footsteps of our Government’s commitment of a contribution valued at $20 million for improving broadband connections to rural and northern communities, which was announced in January 2018 as part of a $63 million announcement that includes provincial, federal, and private contributions, as well as the massive FleetNet emergency systems overhaul announced in August, which was expected to cost $380 million over three years and significantly improve First Responders communication networks. These announcements are important initiatives that support improving safety for rural and northern areas, helping everyone stay informed and connected to ongoing events.

Internet and connectivity are important investments for our communities. While there are benefits that come with better internet access and improved wireless service, a significant benefit is the safety of residents in rural areas that comes with better information available as quickly as possible.