Marieville, June 14, 2021 - Videotron is pleased to announce, in partnership with the Government of Canada and the Government of Québec, that it has been selected under Canada-Québec Operation High-Speed to connect more than 5,500 homes to high-speed Internet in the Montérégie and Estrie regions by September 30, 2022. The announcement was made today by the Honourable Marie-Claude Bibeau, Minister of Agriculture and Agri-Food and MP for Compton-Stanstead, Gilles Bélanger, MNA for Orford and Parliamentary Assistant to the Premier, and Pierre Karl Péladeau, President and CEO of Quebecor.
The homes that will be connected are located in 62 local municipalities in the regional county municipalities of Rouville, Marguerite-D’Youville, Haut-Saint-Laurent, Haute-Yamaska, Memphrémagog, Roussillon, Pierre-De-Saurel, Haut-Richelieu, Beauharnois-Salaberry, Brome-Missisquoi, Vallée du Richelieu, Les Maskoutains and Jardins-De-Napierville. Over the next few months, Videotron will survey the territory to make sure that all households without exception are connected. See the full list of municipalities that will be served.
Today, high-speed Internet is considered an essential service. The COVID-19 pandemic has highlighted the need for Québec’s rural communities to have access to 21st century digital infrastructure. After decades of waiting, almost all rural communities will soon have access to the same level of service as is available in the big cities. The projects funded under Canada–Québec Operation High Speed are key to Québec’s digital shift. They will make it easier to access telemedicine, distance education, entertainment, online shopping and telework.
A full product line-up for the best customer experience
The newly connected households will be able to subscribe to Helix, Videotron’s new home entertainment and connected lifestyle experience. Its voice remote capabilities, ultra-intelligent Wi-Fi and support for home automation will make Helix a welcome addition in many rural Québec households.
More Quebecers will also soon enjoy the best customer experience, at the same price as in the major urban centres. Not only do the households targeted by this project lack access to high-speed Internet, but they are often paying too much for inferior technology. This will end with Videotron’s arrival.
Quotes
“This is excellent news for the Montérégie region and for rural Québec as a whole. The pandemic has shown us how essential high-speed Internet access has become for our communities, not only for bringing people together virtually but also for working, studying and doing business. Our government understands that it is urgent and vital to connect communities in Québec and Canada. We are proud to participate in this important project and will continue to invest and partner with the Government of Québec to ensure each household and business has access to high-speed Internet by September 2022.”
Marie-Claude Bibeau, Minister of Agriculture and Agri-Food and MP for Compton-Stanstead
“The entire Montérégie region will benefit from these investments. The events of the past year have highlighted the importance of having access to quality Internet services. We are pleased to honour our commitment and make sure residents of the region have the tools they need to take part in this major digital shift, regardless of where they live.”
Simon Jolin-Barrette, Minister of Justice, Minister responsible for the Montérégie region and MNA for Borduas
“Rolling out high-speed Internet is a major priority for our government. The pandemic has shown us the extent of the need throughout the region. So I am delighted with today’s announcement about the projects approved for Videotron. This has become an essential need. For several years now, municipalities in my riding have been actively working together on this issue to bring residents high-speed Internet coverage that meets their needs. I am pleased to see this project come to fruition, and I thank everyone responsible for this step forward for the entire population of the Roussillon regional county municipality.”
Christian Dubé, Minister of Health and Social Services and MNA for La Prairie
“Connecting Quebecers to high-speed Internet was a key commitment by our government. Today, I am very pleased with this announcement that benefits the residents of my riding, specifically those in Richelieu and Saint-Mathias-sur-Richelieu. Access to high-speed Internet has become a must and the government is taking effective action on this front.”
Jean-François Roberge, Minister of Education and MNA for Chambly
“Our government promised to connect all Québec households to high-speed Internet by September 2022 and we are delivering on our commitment. This digital shift will make a difference for the residents of Roxton Pond on a daily basis. The town’s development depends on connectivity for all residents and all workers. Farms will also be able to take advantage of the new service, which is good news for our farmers.”
André Lamontagne, Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, Minister responsible for the Centre-du-Québec and Chaudière-Appalaches regions and MNA for Johnson
“I am pleased with the announcement that connectivity is coming for parts of Brome-Missisquoi. All residents of our beautiful region – business people, students, families, seniors – will now have access to this essential service. It is a relief to know that these unserved pockets of the riding will finally be hooked up.”
Isabelle Charest, Minister for Education, Minister responsible for the Status of Women and MNA for Brome-Missisquoi
“This is an issue on which I have worked hard since my election because I know that Brome-Missisquoi residents need high-speed Internet to develop their businesses, stay connected with their loved ones and pursue their studies. I am very happy that Ottawa and Québec City are teaming up to deliver high-speed Internet access to almost all Quebecers by September 2022, and in particular to the residents of Brome-Missisquoi.”
Lyne Bessette, MP for Brome-Mississquoi
“Canada-Québec Operation High Speed represents a big stride forward for Internet access in Québec. The Ottawa-Québec partnership and unprecedented investments will bring every household in the Montérégie region access to high-speed Internet service by September 2022.”
Brenda Shanahan, MP for Châteauguay-Lacolle
“Our ambitious goal is to bring high-speed Internet access to every household in Québec by September 2022. Today’s announcement is another step in the right direction. The partnership agreement with Videotron will guarantee access to reliable, powerful high-speed Internet services in the Montérégie region. We are investing heavily to make Québec the connectivity leader.”
Gilles Bélanger, Parliamentary Assistant to the Premier of Québec (high-speed Internet)
“Today, the Internet is not a luxury but a necessity. For information and entertainment, for work and study, it is our gateway to the world. I am proud of our government for working with the federal and municipal governments to provide universal access to high-speed Internet. I am particularly pleased with this announcement because it affects many households in the riding I represent. I thank everyone involved in this project.”
Marie-Chantal Chassé, MNA for Châteauguay
“High-speed Internet has been playing a fast-expanding role in our daily lives for years. The current public health crisis has demonstrated the importance of having network access throughout the province. With the investments announced today, our government is pursuing its mission of supporting economic development outside Québec’s major urban centres.”
Jean-Bernard Émond, MNA for Richelieu
“More than 80 households in the more remote parts of the riding – in Beauharnois, Saint-Étienne-de Beauharnois and Saint-Stanislas-de-Kostka – will have high-speed Internet services that meet their needs at last. As a result of this unprecedented operation, many residents, including some farmers, will finally have the technology they need to make their work easier. The efforts that have coalesced around this objective make me proud.”
Claude Reid, MNA for Beauharnois
“This is great news for the residents of St-Pie! Our government continues investing historic sums so that all Quebecers can enjoy quality Internet service. In 2021, a high-speed connection is not just good news; it is an essential service for many reasons. For example, it will enable our farmers to take advantage of technological developments and business women in rural areas to execute on their plans. If the pandemic has taught us anything, it’s that quality Internet service is far from a luxury!”
Chantal Soucy, MNA for Saint-Hyacinthe
“I am very pleased with today’s announcement, which is so important for Iberville riding. The pandemic has reminded us of the importance of full high-speed Internet coverage in rural areas for telework, distance education and entertainment. It will also be of immense value to our many businesses and farms by enabling them to automate and to sell their products online.”
Claire Samson, MNA for Iberville
“As in other parts of Québec where the digital era had not yet fully arrived, the roll-out of high-speed Internet to all the underserved corners of the Haut-Richelieu regional county municipality almost feels like a deliverance. Many households in Saint-Jean riding will benefit from this accomplishment by our government.”
Louis Lemieux, MNA for Saint-Jean
“I am extremely pleased with this announcement by our government. In my riding, it will mainly affect the town of Contrecoeur. As a result of a $31.66 million investment in the Montérégie region under Canada-Québec Operation High Speed, 430 households will have access to Videotron’s high-speed Internet services by September 2022. This took a good deal of advocacy work. It shows that we are listening. In the 21st century, high-speed Internet access is vital for our business people, our farmers and our families.”
Suzanne Dansereau, MNA for Verchères
“The big roll-out of Operation High Speed is going ahead in our riding of Huntingdon. Residents of the Haut-Saint-Laurent regional county municipality, Sainte-Martine, Saint-Urbain-Premier and Saint-Michel will be very pleased that Videotron has announced plans to connect their municipalities by September 2022. Quality Internet service is a necessity for work, study and entertainment. This long-awaited announcement fulfills a promise made by a government that cares about the populace and is committed to building the Québec of today and tomorrow.”
Claire IsaBelle, MNA for Huntingdon
“Videotron is proud to have been chosen to connect these homes in Estrie and Montérégie to high-speed Internet. We have always cared about the development of Québec’s rural areas. We are more present there than ever with our unparalleled range of connectivity and entertainment services, and our people working everywhere in Québec.”
Pierre Karl Péladeau, President and CEO of Quebecor
Highlights
- Operation High Speed is a joint initiative by the governments of Canada and Québec to connect 148,000 households that are still without high-speed Internet. Videotron will be responsible for connecting 37,000 of these homes.
- A fibre optic-based new-generation network that supports speeds well above the 50/10 Mbps required by the government will be built out. Local residents will have access to Helix, Videotron’s new home entertainment and connected lifestyle experience.
- See the full list of municipalities that will be served.
- The new connections include the households that will be connected under the Régions branchées project. Videotron will begin work immediately and complete the project by September 30, 2022.
- If you live in a currently underserved area and have questions, visit our website to follow the project’s progress or call our project information line: 1-833-905-2004.
About Videotron
Videotron, a wholly owned subsidiary of Quebecor Media Inc., is an integrated communications company engaged in television, entertainment, Internet access, wireline telephone and mobile telephone services. Videotron is a leader in new technologies with its Helix home entertainment and management platform. As of December 31, 2020, Videotron was serving 1,475,600 cable television customers and 469,000 subscribers to its Club illico video streaming service. Videotron is also the Québec leader in high‑speed Internet access, with 1,796,800 subscribers as of December 31, 2020. As of the same date, Videotron had 1,481,100 subscriber connections to its mobile telephone service and was providing wireline telephone service to 924,700 Québec households and organizations.
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Media contact:
Merick Séguin
Public Relations Advisor, Corporate Affairs
Merick.seguin@videotron.com
Marie-Pier Baril
Press Secretary
Office of the Minister for Women and Gender Equality and Rural Economic Development
marie-pier.baril@cfc-swc.gc.ca
613 295-8123
Alexandra Roy
Political Attaché
Office of the Premier
819 212-0459
