The government’s efforts to connect rural parts of the country to high-speed internet are falling short, Canada’s auditor general says in a report tabled Monday — which warns that the gap between cities and everywhere could lead to equality issues as work, education and many services move online.
While nearly 91 per cent of Canadian households had access to high-speed internet in 2021, just 59.5 per cent of those in rural and remote areas enjoyed the same access. That number drops to 42.9 per cent for households on First Nations reserves.
“These findings emphasize the persistent digital divide for people living on First Nations reserves and in rural and