Prime Minister Justin Trudeau paid a visit to Owen Sound on Wednesday.
He met with local business owners at the Mudtown Station restaurant and discussed the issue of bringing better broadband internet access to rural communities, which includes a massive $5 billion investment.
Aiyana Harris, the owner of Eternal Bee, said Trudeau asked about her business struggles related to internet access, which actually forced her to move to get better service.
"I told him I had to move, and that's all part of the $5 billion that's going to go into our communities, so people that want to live in the country, they can, and still get the same internet speeds," she said.
Harris said Trudeau detailed how his government is investing the announced $5 billion over the next ten years to get rural broadband infrastructure in place, with the goal of being at 90 per cent service in five to 10 years. Trudeau left the meeting to stop briefly at Liberal candidate Michael Den Tandt's office before heading to Toronto for a fundraising event at 7 p.m.
Harris said she is encouraged by the prime minister's promise for heavy investment to address rural broadband and that it finally seems like the issue is coming to a head and being addressed seriously.
"There isn't a whole lot other than this investment that they can do right now, because they've been promising us good internet for years, so I think we are at a point where it's finally coming to a head and I think we're getting somewhere now. It is a big issue that does need to be taken care of," she said.
In terms of other issues that were brought up, Harris said she specifically identified concerns about the 5G network roll-out which could potentially have adverse health effects.
"He was aware of it, which is good. It has to do with the newest technology coming out, and it can be very harmful to your health. It's sort of like opening up a microwave, and never being able to close it ever. So it is a concern," she said.
Trudeau briefly addressed the gathered media at the start of the round table but did not take questions. In his brief opening statement, the prime minister detailed how his government hopes to continue investing in communities like Owen Sound.
"We want to continue to ensure there's economic growth working for you in this community and communities like this across the country," said Trudeau. "We made a decision in 2015 that the right path forward is to invest in communities, to invest in things like broadband, to invest in the middle class and people working hard to join it."
