Discussion · Private Members' Business
Ellis Ross Conservative
“I want the House to pass this bill. Rural northern areas like my riding do not have the cell service they were promised. That hurts our economy and makes people unsafe, especially on Highway 16. We need to hold telecom companies accountable for real coverage.”
“Mr. Speaker, it is an honour to get up on behalf of Skeena—Bulkley Valley to talk about Bill C-268, which is long overdue, decades overdue. The last review was done in, I think, 2017. That aside, we are talking about connectivity. We are talking about cellphone coverage. That is what we are really talking about. The north, in my riding, has been underserved for years, with broken promises. We are also talking about safety. I agree with that. I have heard all the speeches, but in one instance, we are talking about Highway 16, which has been referred to as the Highway of Tears, where a lot of aboriginal women go missing. The promise back then was to have 100% connectivity from Prince Rupert to Prince George. We are not even close. We have not even reached 50% of that connectivity promise. This is not just about safety. It is about building Canada strong. In this case, I would urge the government to take a lesson from this side of the House. I know it does not like to, but it really should, because the north, especially regions like my riding, actually drives the economy of Canada, yet it does not get the services it requires to be a full, functioning, healthy economy. Connectivity has a lot to do with that. Look at the Stewart port. It has billions of dollars of potential. The Liberals mention it when they need a photo op, but does it have good connectivity? No. Has it asked for that? Yes. Has it asked for highway upgrades? Yes, it has. The Tahltan first nation was here just yesterday asking about connectivity so they will not have to subscribe to Starlink, a U.S. company, to provide them cell service. They also want infrastructure promises. The government has to get away from getting on the coattails of projects that already have their own momentum and look at different regions that can provide billions of dollars in investment to kick-start our economy after a 10-year period of stagnation. The golden triangle in Tahltan territory needs connectivity and highway infrastructure. In Burns Lake, we need connectivity. We can contribute more than what we already see in the papers in places like Stewart, Tahltan, Burns Lake and even Kitimat, and especially along the Highway of Tears. That was promised decades ago. In this instance, we have to hold these big telecom companies in Canada accountable and make them do as they say and say as they do, not the other way around. This legislation is long overdue. I really urge this House to vote in favour of it going forward.”
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A repeated line
“This is about building Canada strong.”
Said 5 times by 5 members since September 21.
Every time it was said
Mr. Speaker, it is an honour to get up on behalf of Skeena—Bulkley Valley to talk about Bill C-268, which is long overdue, decades overdue. The last review was done in, I think, 2017. That aside, we are talking about connectivity. We are talking about cellphone coverage. That is what we are really talking about. The north, in my riding, has been underserved for years, with broken promises. We are also talking about safety. I agree with that. I have heard all the speeches, but in one instance, we are talking about Highway 16, which has been referred to as the Highway of Tears, where a lot of aboriginal women go missing. The promise back then was to have 100% connectivity from Prince Rupert to Prince George. We are not even close. We have not even reached 50% of that connectivity promise. This is not just about safety. It is about building Canada strong. In this case, I would urge the government to take a lesson from this side of the House. I know it does not like to, but it really should, because the north, especially regions like my riding, actually drives the economy of Canada, yet it does not get the services it requires to be a full, functioning, healthy economy. Connectivity has a lot to do with that. Look at the Stewart port. It has billions of dollars of potential. The Liberals mention it when they need a photo op, but does it have good connectivity? No. Has it asked for that? Yes. Has it asked for highway upgrades? Yes, it has. The Tahltan first nation was here just yesterday asking about connectivity so they will not have to subscribe to Starlink, a U.S. company, to provide them cell service. They also want infrastructure promises. The government has to get away from getting on the coattails of projects that already have their own momentum and look at different regions that can provide billions of dollars in investment to kick-start our economy after a 10-year period of stagnation. The golden triangle in Tahltan territory needs connectivity and highway infrastructure. In Burns Lake, we need connectivity. We can contribute more than what we already see in the papers in places like Stewart, Tahltan, Burns Lake and even Kitimat, and especially along the Highway of Tears. That was promised decades ago. In this instance, we have to hold these big telecom companies in Canada accountable and make them do as they say and say as they do, not the other way around. This legislation is long overdue. I really urge this House to vote in favour of it going forward.