​Kincardine calls on province to bring satellite Internet program to municipality

Kincardine council has agreed to recommend that the municipality’s rural area have access to the new Ontario Satellite Internet (ONSAT) program.

Back in November, the Ontario government announced it was partnering with Starlink to launch this program, offering high-speed satellite Internet access to 15,000 eligible unserved and under-served homes and businesses, including in rural, remote and northern communities, beginning in June, 2025.

Council was prompted to action by a letter from Carol Blake who is part of the farming community in Kincardine Township (Ward 2); her letter was discussed at the meeting Wednesday night (Jan. 8).

In the letter, Blake said that Kincardine farm businesses and residents had to drop Bruce Telecom and initiate Starlink to have appropriate Internet speed for business transactions and would like to be reimbursed for expenses incurred and/or new clients able to initiate new accounts.

“I have been working with Huron-Bruce MPP Lisa Thompson since 2022 to have farm fibre optics installation funding,” stated Blake. “I sent a signed request form to the minister of infrastructure. This new ONSAT program is a faster solution for farm communities until fibre optics is installed in the ground (if ever).”

Councillor Bill Stewart said there is a problem accessing high-speed Internet in the rural parts of the municipality.

“We should support this,” he said. “This new program, ONSAT, will help people access better Internet.”

He put forward a motion to direct staff to write a letter of recommendation to the province, in support of this program for the Municipality of Kincardine.

Council agreed.