MP Bagnell Releases Statement on Xplornet

Thursday, 5 November 2020 13:22

“Over the last months, I have been concerned about the potential discontinuation of Xplornet’s satellite internet service in Northern Canada." Yukon Member of Parliament, Larry Bagnell

“Over the last months, I have been concerned about the potential discontinuation of Xplornet’s satellite internet service in Northern Canada.

I have been in frequent communication with Xplornet and Telesat, who owns the Anik F2 satellite that this service relies on, on this issue. I am pleased to share that these two companies have come to an agreement, ensuring that those who currently rely on this service for their connectivity will continue to have internet access. Xplornet has recently begun communicating this information to their customers.

Since the end of July, I have been working with the federal ministries and agencies responsible for rural connectivity in Canada, including Innovation, Science, and Economic Development Canada (ISED), which has been actively engaged throughout the process. The federal government, through ISED, has worked very hard on this issue with the companies involved, and has been actively advocating, for months, for a resolution. Over the last week, along with being contacted directly by both Xplornet and Telesat about their agreement, I received calls from the Minister of Innovation, Science, and Industry, Navdeep Bains, and the Minister of Rural Economic Development, Maryam Monsef, both of whom called me to personally share that an agreement was forthcoming.

I would also like to note that the Yukon Government has also been very engaged on this important issue, primarily through the offices of the Premier and the Minister of Highways and Public Works. Minister Richard Mostyn has been an incredibly strong voice in these discussions to ensure that connectivity remains in our rural and remote areas.

I have appreciated that all parties involved in these discussions have recognized the seriousness of this issue, and I thank them all for their cooperation, and their commitment to ensuring that northerners do not lose their connectivity, especially not during the middle of winter, and in the midst of a global pandemic.

I am grateful for the feedback I received from Yukoners who have been worried about the planned discontinuation of their internet services; the emails and phone calls I have received have been critical in my advocacy to Xplornet, Telesat, and our federal ministries. Your messages and your stories are always immensely helpful as I fight for Yukoners.”

Yukon Member of Parliament, Larry Bagnell