Public Accounts committee calls on government to bridge the rural-urban digital divide in new report
Despite billions invested since 2014, Canada still faces a significant digital divide, particularly affecting rural, remote, and First Nations communities, due to gaps in coverage, mobile connectivity, affordability, data quality, and project delivery timelines, a new report from the House of Commons Public Accounts committee says.
While ISED’s 2019 connectivity strategy set targets for high-speed Internet, it lacked clear mobile cellular targets, full funding estimates to reach 100% coverage by 2030, monitoring of adoption rates, and periodic reassessment of the 50/10 Mbps speed standard.
The Auditor General identified weaknesses in data collection and verification for mobile coverage, service quality, affordability (especially income-based measures), and the timeliness and accuracy of the National Broadband Internet Service Availability Map.
Delays and inefficiencies in approving projects under the Universal Broadband Fund and the CRTC Broadband Fund slowed deployment, leaving many applicants waiting years for decisions.
The report also highlighted shortcomings in spectrum management transparency and the need for better data to support spectrum sharing, as well as the importance of monitoring satellite licensing and fee reforms to ensure affordability and access in remote regions.
In response, the committee issued 12 recommendations requiring ISED and the CRTC to provide progress reports by March 2026 on funding needs, targets, adoption, affordability metrics, data quality, spectrum use, satellite connectivity, and application backlogs.
The committee concludes that although connectivity has improved overall, affordability and service quality remain insufficiently measured, and many Canadians still lack reliable and affordable Internet and mobile services.
In a dissenting opinion, Conservative members argue that Liberal mismanagement and bureaucratic delays have worsened the problem, and they propose faster approvals, stronger affordability benchmarks, stricter spectrum enforcement, and immediate prioritization of rural, remote, and Indigenous connectivity.