Secretary of State (Rural Development) Buckley Belanger speaks during a federal broadband funding announcement in Meadow Lake, Jan. 16, 2026. The federal government announced more than $11 million to expand high-speed internet access in rural and remote communities across Saskatchewan. (Kenneth Cheung/meadowlakeNOW)

By Kenneth Cheung

CLOSING THE GAP

Ottawa announces over $11M to expand high-speed internet in rural and northern Sask.

Jan 16, 2026 | 4:18 PM

A new federal investment aimed at expanding high-speed internet access is set to reach more than 1,900 homes in rural and remote parts of Saskatchewan, including nearly 200 Indigenous households.

The Government of Canada announced Friday more than $11 million in funding for four broadband projects that will connect 1,922 households in 28 communities.

Speaking in Meadow Lake, Secretary of State (Rural Development) Buckley Belanger said the announcement is part of Ottawa’s broader commitment to ensure reliable internet access is available to all Canadians.

“Today is about something very simple — making sure people in rural and remote Saskatchewan have the same access to high-speed internet as anyone else in this country,” Belanger said.

Belanger said Meadow Lake was chosen for the announcement to highlight partnerships with regional and Indigenous internet service providers, rather than focusing solely on major telecom companies.

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He described unreliable internet as more than an inconvenience, pointing to its impact on daily life in rural and northern communities.

“In too many of our communities, the internet still isn’t reliable. It cuts out, it’s slow, it’s expensive, or it’s just not there at all,” he said.

“And that might sound like one of those nice-to-have problems, but not for a student who’s trying to do homework online on a weak connection.”

Secretary of State (Rural Development) Buckley Belanger speaks during a federal broadband funding announcement in Meadow Lake, Jan. 16, 2026. (Kenneth Cheung/battlefordsNOW)

The funding is being delivered through the Universal Broadband Fund – Ottawa’s flagship program to improve internet connectivity in rural, remote and Indigenous communities. The federal government has committed to connecting 100 per cent of Canadian households to high-speed internet by 2030, with a target of 98 per cent coverage by the end of 2026.

Belanger said Saskatchewan has made significant progress but still has work ahead.

“At one time, it was roughly 54 per cent of the households that were connected to high-speed internet. We’re trying to dramatically improve this,” he said.

“Our objective now is to get to 100 per cent coverage for Saskatchewan by 2030.”

Federal figures show 85.7 per cent of Saskatchewan households currently have access to high-speed internet, up from about 45 per cent in 2017. The province is expected to reach 90.2 per cent coverage by the end of this year.

The projects announced Friday will be delivered through a mix of large telecommunications companies and regional internet service providers, including Access Communications Co-operative Limited, FlexNetworks and Prairie Crocus Rural Internet, as well as Indigenous and locally driven providers.

“They do all the infrastructure planning, and they prepare the communities for internet connection. So they obviously will dictate the speed in which we provide that internet service to that community,” Belanger said.

Flying Dust First Nation Chief Tyson Bear addresses attendees during a federal broadband funding announcement in Meadow Lake, Jan. 16, 2026, welcoming new investment aimed at expanding high-speed internet access in rural and Indigenous communities. (Kenneth Cheung/meadowlakeNOW)

Local leaders welcomed the announcement, saying improved connectivity is critical for northern and Indigenous communities.

Flying Dust First Nation Chief Tyson Bear said many residents across northern Saskatchewan still face barriers when it comes to accessing online services.

“There’s so many opportunities that are online that we don’t get to access — the people in the north don’t get to access it,” Bear said.

Belanger also linked improved connectivity to broader social and economic outcomes, including community safety and development.

“If we want to build Canada strong, that means building a Canada that is fair for everyone, no matter where you live,” he said.

Since 2015, the federal government has invested $215 million in connectivity projects in Saskatchewan, and Belanger said Ottawa will continue funding broadband expansion until the 2030 target is met.

“We are not here to celebrate. We are here to finish this job,” he said.

Belanger said the federal government maintains a working relationship with SaskTel, though the Crown corporation was not directly involved in this announcement.

Secretary of State (Rural Development) Buckley Belanger, centre right, Flying Dust First Nation Chief Tyson Bear, centre, and Elder Jim Norman, centre left, pose with representatives from regional internet service providers following a federal broadband funding announcement in Meadow Lake, Jan. 16, 2026. (Kenneth Cheung/meadowlakeNOW)

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Kenneth.Cheung@pattisonmedia.com