Improve municipal cellular coverage
Petitioners ask Canada to ensure Barrington has mobile service by working with providers and prioritizing funding to close rural gaps. The government responds it is funding projects, improving coverage data and enabling satellite connectivity.
Why we would sign this petition
- Improved mobile coverage would increase public safety by enabling reliable emergency calls and communication across the municipality.
- Better connectivity would support businesses, students and access to healthcare, addressing the economic and social issues petitioners cite.
- Prioritizing funding and collaborating with providers targets practical, local solutions that could close specific rural coverage gaps.
Why we wouldn’t sign this petition
- Expanding mobile coverage can be expensive and may divert limited funds from other local priorities.
- Provider cooperation, terrain and technical limits may delay or prevent timely improvements, so outcomes aren’t guaranteed.
- Other approaches or programs might address gaps more efficiently or equitably, so funding and strategies should be compared first.
The summary and both sets of reasons are AI-generated from the petition and given equal weight. Claims are the petitioners’ own; consult the official record for the full text.
Official petition
Petition to the Minister of Canadian Identity and Culture The Municipality of Barrington has long recognized the serious challenges caused by poor cellular service in our community; The Municipality of Barrington has actively advocated for better connectivity by leasing municipal land to a service provider to encourage new cell towers, writing to provincial and federal counterparts, working with the Western Regional Enterprise Network (WREN) to identify dead zones and coverage gaps, and lobbying all levels of government to highlight the critical nature of this issue and encourage investment in rural connectivity; Despite these efforts, reliable cellular service remains largely unavailable in many areas of the Municipality; Poor cellular coverage creates significant challenges for residents, businesses, students, patients, and families, including putting residents at risk in emergencies, limiting business operations, and restricting access to learning, healthcare, and essential communication; and Reliable cellular service is vital for the safety, communication, and economic and social well-being of the community. We, the undersigned, residents, visitors, and business owners of the Municipality of Barrington, call upon the Government of Canada to take immediate action to improve cellular service in our community by ensuring that all residents, businesses, and visitors in the Municipality have access to reliable mobile service, working closely with telecommunications providers to expand coverage in underserved areas and prioritizing funding and programs aimed at closing the rural connectivity gap, so that our community is no longer left behind.
Government response
Response by the Minister of Industry and Minister responsible for Canada Economic Development for Quebec Regions Signed by The Honourable Buckley Belanger The Government of Canada thanks the petitioners for sharing their views on the importance of cellular connectivity in the Municipality of Barrington. The Government of Canada knows that now more than ever, Canadians rely on telecommunications services for work, school, finances, health care, and staying connected. In particular, the Government recognizes the importance of mobile connectivity to public safety and emergency services, consumer protection, and economic growth, and that progress requires working closely with telecommunication companies directly. In 2019, the Government released High-Speed Access for All: Canada's Connectivity Strategy, which committed to connecting all Canadians to high-speed Internet by 2030 and to improving mobile wireless coverage where Canadians live and work, and along underserved roads. The Government is investing directly and using its regulatory powers to achieve these goals. For example, the Universal Broadband Fund (UBF) is a key initiative under the Strategy and provides a total of $3.225 billion to support connectivity in underserved rural and remote communities. This includes up to $50 million for mobile Internet projects, including projects along highways and roads where mobile connectivity is lacking. The Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission (CRTC) also has a Broadband Fund, sourced through an industry levy, to support connectivity projects, including for mobile wireless networks in underserved communities and along major transportation roads. Together, these programs have announced approximately $80 million in contributions towards cellular projects, which is expected to improve coverage along approximately 1,700 kilometers of road. These measures are complementary to the Government of Nova Scotia’s Cellular for Nova Scotia Program. In partnership with provinces and territories, the Government of Canada will continue to pursue opportunities to identify gaps and improve cell coverage across Canada. Expanding cellular coverage through satellite connections is also a rapidly advancing development. In February 2025, Innovation, Science and Economic Development (ISED) published a framework outlining the rules for deploying cellular services that provide mobile connectivity using satellites. This promising technology allows mainstream devices, such as smartphones, to receive service outside of the tower coverage footprint via satellite. This service is currently available on select compatible devices through partnerships between service providers and satellite operators, and supports intermittent texting and select applications. Canada was one of first countries to have this service available. As this technology develops, more robust services and applications are expected to become available. The Government is also taking action to improve the quality of mobile coverage data. In 2023, the Government issued a binding policy direction to the CRTC, which included a direction for it to develop and implement a standardized and robust approach for reporting mobile coverage. On January 15, 2026, the CRTC launched a public proceeding to develop a standardized, evidence-based methodology to improve mobile coverage data collection in its Annual Facilities Survey. Data from the survey is used to produce coverage statistics and maps that show mobile and broadband coverage, such as ISED’s National Broadband Map. This initiative responds to persistent public concerns about gaps in mobile coverage. Improved reporting standards are intended to support better identification of coverage gaps, help in policy and funding decisions, and strengthen coordination. The CRTC is currently calling for comments on the development of the proposed mobile reporting standard, with a deadline for stakeholders to submit their comments by March 16, 2026. The Government looks forward to continuing to engage with Canadians and all levels of government to promote access to high-quality and reliable mobile services across the country.