Digital infrastructure and broadband connectivity are vital for meeting emission objectives

As president of the Saskatchewan Association of Rural Municipalities (SARM), I welcome the opportunity to reflect on the recent announcement made by the federal government regarding their Emissions Reduction Plan (ERP) and to highlight the digital divide between rural and urban municipalities that needs to be addressed. SARM is an independent association that represents rural municipalities (RM) in the province of Saskatchewan. SARM is a strong advocate in representing RMs before senior levels of government both federally and provincially. Saskatchewan RMs are the level of government closest to ratepayers and businesses in rural parts of the province. The infrastructure and services they provide have an immediate impact on the economic growth and competitiveness of the national economy. The federal government’s ERP discusses its roadmap to reach its emissions reduction target of 40 to 45 per cent below 2005 levels by 2030 and to achieve net-zero emissions by 2050. The plan includes $9.1-billion in investments and breaks down the goals by sector. The plan hinges on technology and innovation to achieve its goals, which I think demands a critical conversation about the state of equitable broadband connectivity across the country, especially in rural and remote areas. The federal government needs to recognize that without the ability to connect to reliable and affordable broadband internet, many of the efficiencies it is hoping to gain are just not possible. Digital infrastructure and broadband connectivity are at the forefront of evolution and should be deemed an essential service if we are going to come remotely close to hitting emissions objectives. As an example, the federal government speaks to the adoption of “lean technology on farms and supporting farmers in adopting greener on-farm practices to reduce emissions.” Well, equipment is being manufactured now that is fully equipped for connectivity, machine learning, and artificial intelligence. Here in Saskatchewan, one of the barriers to many farmers is that they are not able to use the innovative technology to its maximum efficiency or, in some cases, even at all due to a lack of connectivity to reliable broadband. When federal announcements are made about investments into broadband, the dollars are often focused where there is more population density, which is understandable, but what about the farmer who is working in a combine harvester in the middle of the field, or the livestock producer herding their cattle in a pasture? How do they use today’s technology without a reliable connection to allow them to do business and innovate? The issue of inadequate connectivity in rural Canada does not just haunt the agriculture sector's ability to meet the federal government’s environmental goals. It is also detrimental to rural areas attempting to recruit younger generations of workers including doctors, nurses, and teachers. Our young people do not want to move back to where they grew up if they feel like they are moving back into a time from 20 years ago. The virtual world is growing as we stickhandle through the pandemic. The workforce and the way we work are changing and attracting individuals to our communities will not happen without reliable broadband. SARM believes the broadband challenges will not be solved by any one individual or organization and has taken a lead in the formation of the Rural Broadband Action Committee here in Saskatchewan. Many stakeholders and broadband providers across the province have sat around the committee table, including the Saskatchewan Economic Development Alliance, Saskatchewan Urban Municipalities Association, Access Communications, Sasktel, the Federation of Sovereign Indigenous Nations, Saskatchewan School Boards Association, Flex Network, Clarence Campeau Development Fund, and the Saskatchewan Chamber of Commerce. The goal of the committee is to bring stakeholders and decision-makers to the table to push for real change to internet access in Saskatchewan. The committee members have a vision that by 2024, Saskatchewan’s broadband infrastructure would have achieved parity for all Saskatchewan residents regardless of address. Now is the time to invest in relationships, innovation, and the future. We urge those in the federal government to join us in the conversation on how we can end the broadband disparity across the country. Level the playing field and create opportunities so all jurisdictions have the tools to maximize their success going forward and allow them to participate in programs like the federal Emissions Reduction Plan, which are built on the premise of technology and innovation. Ray Orb is the reeve of the rural municipality of Cupar, Sask. He has been on the board of the Saskatchewan Board of Rural Municipalities for 16 years and president since 2014. The Hill Times

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Digital infrastructure and broadband connectivity are vital for meeting emission objectives

Until rural Canadians all have reliable broadband, clean technology for reducing gas emissions will be used inefficiently.

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