On May 14, 2026, I stood in Wasagamack Anisininew Nation — deep in the heart of the Island Lakes region — and made an announcement that this community has been waiting a long time to hear.
The Government of Canada is investing $49,700,612 to bring high-speed broadband internet to Wasagamack and its neighbouring Anisininew Nations — Garden Hill, St. Theresa Point, and Red Sucker Lake.
For communities where a dropped connection has meant a missed doctor's appointment, an interrupted online class, or a lost job opportunity — this changes everything.
Reliable internet is not a luxury. It is infrastructure — as essential as roads and running water. A student in Wasagamack deserves the same ability to learn online as a student in Winnipeg. An Elder in Garden Hill deserves to video call their doctor without driving hours to a clinic. A young entrepreneur in St. Theresa Point deserves to build a business right here at home.
I was joined on this day by Grand Chief Alex McDougall of the Anisininew Okimawin Grand Council and Chief Walter Harper of Wasagamack Anisininew Nation — two leaders who have carried this priority with patience and determination for years. This announcement belongs to them and to their communities.
The digital divide in northern Manitoba is closing. And we are just getting started. 💙
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