Manitoba Liberal Leader Dougald Lamont has announced his party’s plan for connecting the north.  They will ensure all northern communities have access to high speed internet and cell phone coverage within three years, ensure that roads for communities are built and maintained with a focus on trade routes that can spur economic growth by lowering costs for families and businesses alike and ensure partnership with local leadership from northern communities and First Nations.

Lamont says Manitoba is lagging behind Saskatchewan in connecting remote areas.  He notes if you compare cell service coverage in Manitoba to Saskatchewan, Saskatchewan is much better and some of this is a safety issue some is an economic issue.

Lamont adds he would work with Manitoba Hydro’s existing fibre-optic system and Indigenous communication companies to cover remote area.  He estimates it would cost 20 million dollars as part of a cost shared deal with the federal government although he is not providing a detailed breakdown of the figure.