Response Letter re Internet Accessibility

Extracted text (beginning)

Office of the Deputy Minister 
Ministry of Citizens’ Services 
Mailing Address: 
Box 9440 Stn Prov Govt 
Victoria BC  V8W 9V3 
Telephone:  250 387-8852 
Facsimile:  250 387-8561 
Email:    CITZDeputyMinister@gov.bc.ca  
December 3, 2019 Ref: 112001 
Peter Luckham  
Chair, Islands Trust Council 
200-1627 Fort Street
Victoria BC  V8R 1H8
Dear Peter Luckham: 
Thank you for meeting with the Ministry of Citizens’ Services at the Union of British Columbia 
Municipalities (UBCM) conference on September 26, 2019 in Vancouver and discussing the 
concerns from the Islands Trust regarding the Connected Coast project. 
The Connected Coast project involves the installation of a new sub-sea backbone transport fibre 
cable from Prince Rupert to Vancouver with landings at multiple coastal communities along its 
route. The project does not include last-mile builds, but once the Connected Coast is completed, 
the new fibre backbone will enable additional capacity at the landing sites. 
The project was a joint submission by CityWest Cable & Telephone Corporation and the 
Strathcona Regional District to the federal Connect to Innovate Program and is jointly funded by 
the provincial Connecting British Columbia Program and the federal government. The scope of 
the project has now been finalized. However, there is an opportunity to start complementary 
projects by adding new landing sites that extend from the Connected Coast project. Additional 
landing sites and last-mile projects may have different project leads and timelines. 
Currently, TELUS has confirmed that Galiano, Mayne, Denman and Hornby Islands have 
sufficient transport capacity to the islands. The primary issue is the lack of last-mile 
infrastructure to deliver high-speed internet services to the homes. To help determine the best 
solution for the Southern Gulf Islands, connectivity planning is taking place through the Capital 
Regional District. Please visit: https://www.crd.bc.ca/project/connectivity-planning-in-the-
southern-gulf-islands for more information on dates and locations of the engagement sessions.  
We trust that the results of these consultations will allow the communities to develop a plan that 
will enable them to work with a service provider on a solution that best meets their unique needs. 
.../2 

Peter Luckham 
Page 2 
 
 
In addition, the Comox Valley Regional District received a grant from the provincially funded 
Connecting British Columbia Program to develop a connectivity infrastructure plan for the 
communities of Denman and Hornby Islands. Additional funding support was provided by the 
Island Coastal Economic Trust.  
 
The Province is working closely with telecommunications companies and with the Government 
of Canada to lay the groundwork – through broadband infrastructure – to help internet service 
providers connect more BC communities. Recently, the Canadian Radio-television and 
Telecommunications Commission issued a second call for applications of the $750-million 
Br

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