THE PEACH | François Legault proposes to invest $3 billion in the creation of a public-private fund aimed at completing cellular coverage in a future mandate, while accelerating the conversion of the network to 5G technology, everywhere in Quebec.
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By including private investments estimated at $4.8 billion which could be added to those of the public, the Coalition Avenir Québec (CAQ) believes that the creation in 2022-2023 of the Quebec Infrastructure and Data Fund, “ID Quebec” in its short version, could generate investments totaling $7.8 billion.
The money would be used to “reduce the technology gap” that exists between regions and major centers, first by supplementing the cellular network where coverage is deficient, by 2026, announced the leader of the Coalition Avenir Quebec during a press conference in Outaouais held with all of its candidates in the region.
“There are still places in Quebec where we don’t have cellphones,” recalled Mr. Legault.
Last May, the CAQ government announced $50 million to map places in Quebec where the signal is weak or non-existent.
This situation often causes security issues, as shown by the active shooter alert in Saint-Elzéar-de-Bonaventure launched last week. Due to a lack of cellular coverage, many citizens of this small Gaspésie municipality were unable to receive the alert sent to all Quebecers with a mobile device.
Quebec lagging behind
The CAQ would also take the opportunity to invest in the conversion of “the majority” of the cellular network to 5G technology. “Canada is late to have 5G,” said Mr. Legault.
The goal? “Give our companies the best for transmitting data,” argued the head of the CAQ.
“We see it in Europe, there are tens of billions invested by governments, because governments have understood that for the future, for the economy of the future, we will have to be connected with what is more modern. »
In addition, funds would be injected to continue extending fiber optics “everywhere in Quebec”. “Quebec, we are ahead. We are the most connected province [au Canada] and that makes my colleagues from the other provinces a little jealous, who are waiting until we have finished connecting Quebec to connect them,” said Mr. Legault.
High speed everywhere
The CAQ leader took the opportunity to highlight the achievements of the outgoing government in the high-speed Internet file, entrusted during the mandate to its candidate and outgoing deputy in Orford, Gilles Bélanger, who was also present for the occasion.
“Today we have high-speed internet everywhere, in all regions,” said Mr. Legault. There are people who decided to wait a few months because they didn’t want Starlink and they wanted fiber, but technically everyone who wanted to be hooked up is hooked up or about to be hooked up. end of the month. »