BINGWI NEYAASHI — The chief of a First Nation on Lake Nipigon says he wants to see telecommunications upgrades done alongside a proposed power line.
Bingwi Neyaashi Chief Paul Gladu raised the issue at a Jan. 14 press conference in Thunder Bay where Jobs and Families Minister Patty Hajdu was announcing over $850,000 for 14 First Nations-led projects in B.C., Saskatchewan and Ontario. Seven of those are in Northwestern Ontario, including money for Bingwi Neyaashi, which received $50,000 towards community engagement work related to the proposed Greenstone transmission line upgrade.
Gladu asked Hajdu if more reliable internet and cell service could come along with it.
“We want to get away from Starlink, we want people to have good … network connections,” he said. “We’re working towards building (into the) Ring of Fire and putting in infrastructure and we’re working towards a (power) line right now from Highway 17 going up to Aroland.”
“Would that be an opportunity for bringing in that infrastructure also?”
Speaking to reporters afterwards, Gladu said having fast, reliable communications is key.
“I think we all have the same problem driving from Thunder Bay to Geraldton — you got a good line and you can’t talk business because you got a line and all of a sudden you get cut off,” he said. “So many dead zones along the way.”
“In our community, it’s the same thing — if you move your phone too quick, you get cut off.”
While he said Starlink “brought us to this day,” they’re still pushing for modern fibreoptic lines and reliable cell service to areas outside of the region’s municipalities.
“It would help advance all our projects and having the people coming (who) lived in the cities knowing that they got this reliable source,” Gladu said.
In answering Gladu’s question, Hajdu said she agreed that there is an opportunity, but didn’t have specifics and didn’t “want to guess.” She acknowledged telecommunications upgrades to remote areas, including First Nations, is taking time.
“We’ve been working on connecting remote communities, but it is slow going,” she said. “Part of it is … existing infrastructure that doesn’t allow for those connections very easily.”
“Part of it is a business model that disincentivizes large corporations from connecting communities where there isn’t a real profit-driven approach,” Hajdu continued.
“And so, we’ve been working with some of the smaller providers.”
Hajdu pointed to previous funding commitments, including money for telecoms that are providing service into remote communities.
“I do think that when we advance roads, bridges — access and connection that that is the prime time to make sure we’re doing the digital highway as well.”
