News Release

For Immediate Release
November 9, 2004

Improved Internet Access for Victoria County

Victoria County, NS- A project aimed at improving high-speed Internet access in Victoria County was announced today by the Honourable Mark Eyking, MP for Sydney-Victoria on behalf of the Honourable Joseph McGuire, Minister of Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency and Enterprise Cape Breton Corporation.

The Municipality of Victoria County, which is spearheading the project, plans to provide access to Broadband in more than 20 communities in Victoria County by March 31, 2005. Broadband provides high-speed Internet access that allows for the simultaneous transmission of various forms of data (e.g. audio and video).

“The Government of Canada is pleased to support this project,” says
Mark Eyking. “Broadband Internet access is an important component of an innovative economy, and will allow the people of Victoria County to take advantage of opportunities for economic, social and cultural development.”

“Providing Broadband Internet opens up new opportunities for residents,” says Warden Wayne Budge of the Municipality of the County of Victoria. “It will assist businesses to be more competitive and provide residents with improved access to e-tourism, e-government, e-learning and other services.”

The total estimated cost of the project is $2.1 million. ECBC will provide a
non-repayable contribution of $497,426 through the Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency’s Strategic Community Investment Fund (SCIF).

The Strategic Community Investment Fund provides $135 million over five years to help communities in Atlantic Canada create an environment that encourages and enhances economic development.

Enterprise Cape Breton Corporation offers programs in support of economic development initiatives and is responsible for delivering ACOA's programs on Cape Breton Island and in the Mulgrave area.

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FOR BROADCAST USE ONLY:

A PROJECT AIMED AT IMPROVING HIGH-SPEED INTERNET ACCESS IN VICTORIA COUNTY WAS ANNOUNCED TODAY BY THE HONOURABLE MARK EYKING, MP FOR SYDNEY-VICTORIA.

THE MUNICIPALITY OF VICTORIA COUNTY WILL PROVIDE BROADBAND ACCESS TO MORE THAN 20 COMMUNITIES IN VICTORIA COUNTY BY MARCH 31, 2005. BROADBAND PROVIDES HIGH-SPEED INTERNET ACCESS ALLOWING FOR THE SIMULTANEOUS TRANSMISSION OF VARIOUS FORMS OF DATA (E.G. AUDIO AND VIDEO).

THE TOTAL ESTIMATED COST OF THE PROJECT IS $2.1 MILLION. ECBC WILL PROVIDE A NON-REPAYABLE CONTRIBUTION OF $497,426.

MP MARK EYKING SAYS BROADBAND INTERNET ACCESS WILL ALLOW THE PEOPLE OF VICTORIA COUNTY TO TAKE ADVANTAGE OF OPPORTUNITIES FOR ECONOMIC, SOCIAL AND CULTURAL DEVELOPMENT.


FOR ADDITIONAL INFORMATION CONTACT:

Valérie Poulin
Director of Communications
Office of the Honourable Joseph McGuire
Minister of Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency
(613) 941-7241

Office of the Honourable Mark Eyking
MP Sydney-Victoria
Tel: (902) 567-6275

Tom Wilson, Broadband Project Coordinator
Municipality of Victoria County
(902) 295-3664

D.A. Landry
Communications, ECBC
(902) 564-3950