An $18 million investment from the federal and provincial governments will try to improve high speed internet access in eight B.C. communities, including seven First Nations, and up to nine institutions across the province.

Three projects are being funded and it’s expected to benefit Bridge River, T’it’q’et, Skuppah, Boothroyd, Gitanyow, Iskut, Dease Lake, and Bob Quinn Lake.

The feds are contributing $13.8 million, the BC Government will add $3 million, while the remaining $1.2 million will come from other contributors.

Minister of Rural Economic Development Bernadette Jordan says the federal government is committed to connecting 100 per cent of Canadians.

“Every community is different. It’s not going to be a one size fits all solution, so you know some communities will be getting fibre, some will be looking at satellites, some will do towers,” she said. “There’s all different types of things we’ll have to do in order to connect everybody, but we are looking at the best way forward so that we can make sure that we do do it.”

Jordan says the money should start rolling out as soon as possible.

“But like any infrastructure, it’s going to take some time to build it,” added. They are looking at probably within the next one and half to two years to have everything done, but it is a process that will start right away.”

The funding was announced this month during a stop in Lytton by Bernadette Jordan.

“Lyttonnet has been very active in providing fibre backbone to rural communities. It’s actually something that I’ve heard about right across the country. It’s the number one priority for rural communities making sure that they have good connectivity so as the Minister of Rural Economic Development I knew how important that announcement would be for them,” she said.”

Jordan notes the money is part of the $6 billion committed towards high-speed connectivity by the Federal Government in Budget 2019.