Expand rural mobile coverage

AI summary

Petitioners ask the Government of Canada to ensure all rural residents have reliable mobile service by working with carriers to expand coverage and prioritizing funding to close the digital gap. The government responds that it is funding and regulating improvements via the Connectivity Strategy, Universal Broadband Fund, CRTC measures, and satellite and data-improvement initiatives.

AI summaries describe petitioners’ requests and claims. Consult the official record for the full text.

Official petition

Petition to the House of Commons in Parliament assembled The Municipality of Martinville and the riding of Compton—Stanstead are dealing with the challenges of poor-quality cellular services in our communities; Municipal elected officials and regional representatives have asked their provincial and federal counterparts for better connectivity, identified dead zones and lobbied all levels of government to encourage investment in rural connectivity; Despite these efforts, reliable cellular service remains unavailable in many parts of the riding, not only in farming and forested areas, remote communities and transportation corridors but also in village centres; The poor coverage causes problems for residents, businesses, farmers, students, patients and families by putting them at risk in emergencies, limiting farming and commercial activities and restricting access to education, health care and essential communications; and Reliable cellular service is vital to the safety and social and economic well-being of Canada’s rural, remote and border communities. We, the undersigned, residents of, visitors to and business owners in the riding of Compton—Stanstead and other rural Canadian communities, call upon the Government of Canada to take immediate action to improve cellular service by ensuring that all residents have access to reliable mobile service, working with telecommunications providers to expand coverage to underserved areas and giving priority to funding that would close the rural digital gap so that our communities are 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 Mélanie Joly The Government of Canada thanks the petitioners for sharing their experience on the quality of cellular connectivity in Martinville. 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. 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 wireless 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. This includes nearly $30 million to expand coverage to more than 380 kilometres of roads and highways in Quebec. These measures are complemented by the Government of Quebec’s cellular connectivity program and other provincial investments. 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 the first countries to have this service available, and more providers have recently announced plans to offer it to their customers. 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. The CRTC has been progressively implementing the policy direction by translating it into their detailed rules. 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 call for comments on this proceeding closed on April 15, 2026 and a decision is pending. 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.