M.P. Nater Commends Local Officials on Funding for SWIFT Project

For Immediate Release

Perth—Wellington – Today, John Nater, Member of Parliament for Perth—Wellington commended local municipal officials on the announcement that the Government of Canada and Government of Ontario would provide up to $180 million in funding for the South Western Integrated Fibre Technology (SWIFT) project.

“In the 21^st century, access to high-speed internet is essential to our rural and small-town communities,” said MP Nater. He added, “Since the election, I have consistently enjoyed productive discussions with local municipal officials on the benefits of the SWIFT project and I applaud them on their extensive work on this project.”

The SWIFT project is led by the Western Ontario Warden’s Caucus with an aim to provide high-speed, broadband internet across southwestern Ontario. More information on the project is available at: http://swiftnetwork.ca/.

Today’s announcement indicated that SWIFT would be funded through the Small Communities Fund, which is a component of the New Building Canada Fund.

The Building Canada Fund was originally created in 2007 by the previous government as an infrastructure investment to enable municipalities to improve local infrastructure in accordance with their own priorities. In 2014, the previous government launched a ten-year, $14 billion New Building Canada Fund to expand on the success of the original fund.

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