Discussion · Private Members' Business
Guillaume Deschênes-Thériault Liberal
“I want the House to pass this bill to improve cell service in rural areas. Many parts of my riding have no cell service at all. This hurts the local economy and puts people in danger during emergencies. We also need to quickly update our rules so companies can use new satellite technologies to help connect these areas.”
“Mr. Speaker, I am very pleased to rise to speak on a subject of great importance in my constituency: cellular connectivity. This is an issue that worries me, just as it worries my colleague, the member for Compton—Stanstead, who is also a very strong advocate for the vitality of rural areas. In my riding, I lose signal when I am in Upper Madawaska. Then, if I move around a bit, the signal comes back. When I pass through Saint-Hilaire, I lose the connection again. It comes back again when I reach Edmundston. However, it is not so great in Saint-Basile anymore, even though it used to work a few years ago. If I keep going towards Rivière-Verte and Sainte-Anne, there are dead zones. The same happens if I go to the Restigouche area, whether I am in Balmoral, McKendrick, Glen Levit or Robinsonville, to name but a few places. My riding has very poor cellular connectivity. This is a top concern for my constituents, so it is a priority for me as well. It is very rare that I do not hear about this issue when I go home to my riding on the weekend. It is also a priority for local elected officials, including mayors and municipal councillors. I hear about this a lot. That is why I am pleased to co-sponsor my colleague’s bill, which calls for a review of Canada’s spectrum policy framework with a view to promoting the deployment of cellular connectivity in rural areas. I like to use all the platforms I have, including this speech in the House, to raise the issue of cellular connectivity in Ottawa. I am also fortunate to be the co-vice-chair of our party’s rural caucus, and this issue is top of mind for our group. Since I was elected, I have had multiple meetings with telecommunications companies, including service providers, as well as companies in the new technology sector. Some of them show great potential, particularly in low-earth orbit satellite technology. These technologies have the potential to be a real game changer in terms of connectivity. Yes, we have towers to serve areas that are more densely populated, but these satellite technologies would help bridge the gap in regions that are currently underserved. Coverage in these areas could be improved using these technologies. There is no question that further regulatory adjustments are needed to really take full advantage of the potential of these new technologies. As a member of Parliament, I urge members to act quickly on this issue, which I raise regularly. As we know, cell connectivity has enormous consequences. It impacts public safety. When cars break down in locations without service, it can cause problems. Just think of Highway 17 at night. Sometimes, it can be even more serious, when an accident happens and immediate emergency assistance is needed. It can even be a matter of life or death. Cell connectivity is an extremely serious issue, but the broader issue of economic development is another consideration. Businesses need reliable connections. That is what attracts them to a region. Consider workers, too. A lot of people work while they are on the road these days. As an MP, when I am driving around my riding, it is not unusual for my calls to drop, forcing me to wait a bit and then call the person back. This issue affects workplace productivity, because this is an inefficient way to work. It affects the regions’ ability to attract and retain residents too, because cell connectivity is not a luxury; it is an essential service that affects a person’s quality of life. As members also know, people now use their cellphones to access a wide range of services, whether health care, government services or banking, to name just a few. I would also say that this is a matter of fairness between regions. If we want to build Canada strong, we need strong rural communities, and reliable cellular coverage is essential. That is why I support Bill C-268, which calls for a review of the Canada’s spectrum policy framework. This is part of the solution. The other part is to emphasize the importance of acting quickly to establish a regulatory framework that supports the growth of satellite technologies in order to improve connectivity in rural and remote areas. This is an issue I have been working on and focusing on since my election to Ottawa, because I know that progress in this area will truly make a difference for the communities I represent, for my constituents, and for businesses in Madawaska—Restigouche. I would like to take this opportunity to acknowledge the leadership of my colleague, the member for Compton—Stanstead, who is working tirelessly on the issue of cellular connectivity. She speaks about it regularly. She regularly addresses issues affecting rural areas. As the member for Madawaska—Restigouche, I always enjoy working with her because my riding and hers face many similar challenges, and I believe that by joining forces with other members from rural areas, we can successfully advance issues in Ottawa that are important to our communities. I would say that co-sponsoring this bill is another example of the strong collaboration that I hope will continue.”
Mr. Speaker, I am very pleased to rise to speak on a subject of great importance in my constituency: cellular connectivity. This is an issue that worries me, just as it worries my colleague, the member for Compton—Stanstead, who is also a very strong advocate for the vitality of rural areas. In my riding, I lose signal when I am in Upper Madawaska. Then, if I move around a bit, the signal comes back. When I pass through Saint-Hilaire, I lose the connection again. It comes back again when I reach Edmundston. However, it is not so great in Saint-Basile anymore, even though it used to work a few years ago. If I keep going towards Rivière-Verte and Sainte-Anne, there are dead zones. The same happens if I go to the Restigouche area, whether I am in Balmoral, McKendrick, Glen Levit or Robinsonville, to name but a few places. My riding has very poor cellular connectivity. This is a top concern for my constituents, so it is a priority for me as well. It is very rare that I do not hear about this issue when I go home to my riding on the weekend. It is also a priority for local elected officials, including mayors and municipal councillors. I hear about this a lot. That is why I am pleased to co-sponsor my colleague’s bill, which calls for a review of Canada’s spectrum policy framework with a view to promoting the deployment of cellular connectivity in rural areas. I like to use all the platforms I have, including this speech in the House, to raise the issue of cellular connectivity in Ottawa. I am also fortunate to be the co-vice-chair of our party’s rural caucus, and this issue is top of mind for our group. Since I was elected, I have had multiple meetings with telecommunications companies, including service providers, as well as companies in the new technology sector. Some of them show great potential, particularly in low-earth orbit satellite technology. These technologies have the potential to be a real game changer in terms of connectivity. Yes, we have towers to serve areas that are more densely populated, but these satellite technologies would help bridge the gap in regions that are currently underserved. Coverage in these areas could be improved using these technologies. There is no question that further regulatory adjustments are needed to really take full advantage of the potential of these new technologies. As a member of Parliament, I urge members to act quickly on this issue, which I raise regularly. As we know, cell connectivity has enormous consequences. It impacts public safety. When cars break down in locations without service, it can cause problems. Just think of Highway 17 at night. Sometimes, it can be even more serious, when an accident happens and immediate emergency assistance is needed. It can even be a matter of life or death. Cell connectivity is an extremely serious issue, but the broader issue of economic development is another consideration. Businesses need reliable connections. That is what attracts them to a region. Consider workers, too. A lot of people work while they are on the road these days. As an MP, when I am driving around my riding, it is not unusual for my calls to drop, forcing me to wait a bit and then call the person back. This issue affects workplace productivity, because this is an inefficient way to work. It affects the regions’ ability to attract and retain residents too, because cell connectivity is not a luxury; it is an essential service that affects a person’s quality of life. As members also know, people now use their cellphones to access a wide range of services, whether health care, government services or banking, to name just a few. I would also say that this is a matter of fairness between regions. If we want to build Canada strong, we need strong rural communities, and reliable cellular coverage is essential. That is why I support Bill C-268, which calls for a review of the Canada’s spectrum policy framework. This is part of the solution. The other part is to emphasize the importance of acting quickly to establish a regulatory framework that supports the growth of satellite technologies in order to improve connectivity in rural and remote areas. This is an issue I have been working on and focusing on since my election to Ottawa, because I know that progress in this area will truly make a difference for the communities I represent, for my constituents, and for businesses in Madawaska—Restigouche. I would like to take this opportunity to acknowledge the leadership of my colleague, the member for Compton—Stanstead, who is working tirelessly on the issue of cellular connectivity. She speaks about it regularly. She regularly addresses issues affecting rural areas. As the member for Madawaska—Restigouche, I always enjoy working with her because my riding and hers face many similar challenges, and I believe that by joining forces with other members from rural areas, we can successfully advance issues in Ottawa that are important to our communities. I would say that co-sponsoring this bill is another example of the strong collaboration that I hope will continue.