Accelerated High Speed Internet Program
Torys acted as counsel to Infrastructure Ontario as the public authority for the landmark Ontario Connects initiative, a new, innovative procurement process involving reverse auction events to subsidize the construction of high-speed internet projects throughout the province, a component of the Government of Ontario’s C$4 billion commitment to connect every region in Ontario to reliable, high-speed internet by the end of 2025.
The Accelerated High Speed Internet Program won the 2022 Silver Award for Innovation and Excellence in Project Development from the Canadian Council for Public-Private Partnerships (CCPPP).
A first of its kind in Canada, Infrastructure Ontario launched the new competitive procurement process in 2021, giving telecommunications and internet service providers the opportunity to bid for provincial funding to support high-speed internet infrastructure development in defined geographic areas.
On August 4, 2022, the Government of Ontario announced that it signed agreements with eight internet service providers, selected through the two-stage competitive procurement process, to bring access to as many as 339 municipalities across Ontario.
|
Internet Service Provider |
Estimated Provincial Funding |
Estimated Number of Effected Homes and Businesses |
|
Bell Canada |
$483.8 million |
Up to 82,632 premises |
|
Bragg Communications |
$69 million |
Up to 9,507 premises |
|
Cogeco Connexion |
$74.3 million |
Up to 13,856 premises |
|
Community Network Partners |
$150.2 million |
Up to 9,397 premises |
|
Eh!tel Networks Inc |
$24.7 million |
Up to 3,265 premises |
|
North Frontenac Telephone Company |
$39.5 million |
Up to 3,682 premises |
|
Rogers Communications Canada Inc. |
$171 million |
Up to 89,295 premises |
|
Xplornet Communications Inc. |
$240 million |
Up to 54,679 premises |
Further information on the program can be found at ontario.ca.
The Torys team was led by Mark Bain and Josh Van Deurzen, and that included Thomas Yeo, Jessica Ho-Wo-Cheong and Emily Stewart (projects/procurement), Dennis Mahony and Henry Ren (environmental) and Ryan Lax (Indigenous involvement).
Torys also acted on the following in connection with this project:
| Jurisdiction | Up to 339 municipalities throughout the province |
| Province/State | Ontario |
| Country | Canada |
| Nature of Engagement | Procurement |
| Government Level | Provincial |
| Client | Infrastructure Ontario |
| Client Role | Public Authority |
| Value | $1,252,500,000 CAD |
| Key Features | Multijurisdictional, Indigenous involvement |