Saskatchewan seeks to bridge digital divide with new broadband plan

Oct 20, 2023

Saskatchewan faces a widening digital divide, with unequal broadband access affecting many, particularly in rural and remote communities. The Saskatchewan Broadband Action Committee (SBAC) is urging the Provincial Government to adopt a formal Broadband Development & Investment Framework to address this issue.

Despite the increasing necessity of internet access, Saskatchewan has seen the lowest per capita investment from the Federal Government since 2015. This lack of investment contributes to a persistent digital divide, highlighted in a Federal Auditor’s Report.

The report emphasizes the inadequacy of services for rural and First Nations communities, with 53% of local respondents in a 2022 survey lacking proper high-speed internet.

The SBAC, formed in 2021, comprises various provincial, local, and Indigenous organizations. It arose in response to the heightened broadband issues during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Their mission is ambitious but clear: achieve broadband infrastructure parity by 2025 and exceed national standards by 2030, ensuring reliable internet for all Saskatchewan residents.

Key to this plan is the establishment of a community-based Broadband Coordination & Planning Office, a Regional Community Capacity Grant ranging from $3.0M to $4.0M, and a substantial $50M Market Incentive Co-Funding Infrastructure Grant. These initiatives aim to stimulate development and extend high-speed internet to all corners of the province.

Interestingly, Saskatchewan is the only province without a dedicated broadband improvement strategy, a gap the SBAC seeks to fill with its proposed framework. Their focus extends beyond simple connectivity, also encompassing the socio-economic opportunities reliable internet can provide to individuals and communities.

The SBAC's comprehensive strategy underscores the necessity of the internet in modern life and the importance of equal access. As the digital world continues to expand, ensuring that no Saskatchewan resident is left behind becomes all the more crucial.

With the Provincial Government's support, the SBAC's framework could mark a new digital era for Saskatchewan, providing equal opportunities for all in the digital landscape.

Video: Porcine Gut Models in Nutrition Research - Dr. Li-Hsuan Chen

In this episode of The Swine Nutrition Blackbelt Podcast, Dr. Li-Hsuan Chen, postdoc researcher at Aarhus University, discusses how porcine intestinal cell lines and organoids can help study the impact of nutrition on gut health. He explains how in vivo piglet trials identify diet-driven shifts in microbiota and metabolites, while in vitro models allow researchers to test specific metabolites, barrier function, immune markers, and future organ-on-chip systems before moving back to animal studies. Listen now on all major platforms!

"In vitro models can reduce early animal use by helping researchers screen nutritional candidates before moving back to in vivo trials."

Meet the guest: Dr. Li-Hsuan Chen / li-hsuan-chen-9a95a7279 is a postdoc researcher at Aarhus University in Denmark. Research focuses on porcine gut health, host-microbe interactions, cell lines, and organoids, with PhD work at Aarhus University studying how dietary protein and amino acid levels shape gut microbiota, microbial metabolites, and intestinal epithelial responses. Learn more from Dr. Li-Hsuan Chen on The Swine Nutrition Blackbelt Podcast, available on all major platforms.