Ontario’s new treasury board president won’t say how much the Ford government spent cancelling a $100 million deal with Elon Musk’s Starlink internet service, as public accounts show the decision has hampered rural broadband rollout.
At the start of the trade war with the United States, Ontario Premier Doug Ford announced he would rip up a deal with Musk, then a close ally of President Donald Trump.
The province has previously said the kill fee for what was set to be a $100-million deal is “significantly less than the contract value,” and the amount paid out was part of a negotiated settlement.
On Thursday, former infrastructure minister King Surma — who now oversees government spending as the president of the treasury board — again refused to confirm the cost.
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“I would say that the decision remained with the taxpayer, that was a big component of our election — and the people voted to cancel the contract,” she told reporters.
“So we continue to move forward with our broadband strategy.”
Surma, who held the title of infrastructure minister until this month and signed the Starlink deal, directed detailed questions to her successor.
“That specific question, you’ll have to ask the Minister of Infrastructure,” she said.
The latest public accounts, which detail public spending, confirm concerns that cancelling the Starlink contract would hamper Ontario’s rural broadband rollout.
“As you will see in public accounts, we’ve spent a little bit less on the broadband initiative only because we’ve found some challenges because we’ve cancelled that contract,” Surma said. “But the work continues.”
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Last year, officials with the government quietly accepted the target of connecting all underserved communities to fast broadband by 2025 would not be met. The target was moved to 2028.
One of the reasons the goal needs to be moved, a source told Global News at the time, was the ripple effect of Premier Doug Ford’s decision to scrap a $100 million contract with Musk’s satellite Starlink internet service.
The government source, speaking confidentially, said there were no “feasible” alternatives to Starlink that the province could use. They said officials are working through other options, but none are yet ready.
Essentially, the source said, no other satellite internet options can take on the slack left by cancelling the Starlink deal, with alternatives like Rogers satellite utilizing Musk’s company’s resources.
The broadband plan has also met with construction delays in remote parts of the province.
Nobody voted for this except stupid CITY people who don’t rely on Starlink to stay informed. At least 500 000 people rely 100% on Starlink being the ONLY supplier of internet services in their area.
Another coup from the LibRATS to enslave you. Keep paying taxes you idiots. Keep giving back 60%+ of your salary with a smile like the perfect little commie slaves you are…. Unreal.
Global, your insistence on catching Douggie in a “got ya” moment is getting old
I dont remember voting for losing a bunch of money for nothing. I Remeber thinking we shouldn’t have signed up in the first place though.
Elbozo : Hey, Mr.Conservative… try to stay on topic.
We, the people of Ontario have paid for all the cancelled contracts the Conservatives have done. That’s our tax dollars, not Ford’s personal piggy bank. We have the right to know what the cost of the cancelled contracts cost us? The provincial government seems to have forgotten that they work for us. We do not work for them. Billions have been estimated to have been wasted by this government cancelling contracts (some they restarted, so again, cost more to start them up again) and they seem to do this all the time. This government has added more the provincial debt than any government in the history of Ontario. They couldn’t manage a lemon aid stand without screwing it up.
I don’t remember voting .
Maybe its like booze
I forgot we have a dictator named Ford
Hey, it’s only taxpayers money that they are throwing away. And no one else can provide the service. And utterly stupid decision made by a provincial government
I think Doug saved Rob’s crack pipe
They also voted not to built the 413 too.
They never voted to get new license plates but he pushed that through and that was another disaster.
New nickname – Disaster Dougie.
No worries. Clownada is going to launch a moose into orbit soon
All the losers commenting are ok with Carney doing an interview where he suggests Trump may invade Canada.
There are dumb and dumber lm afraid we have dumber, whiskey, starlink ,green belt, new jet.
Conservatives and transparency don’t mix. Oil and water
Not to worry, cunada going to launch satellite within ten years, you have my word,HAAAAAA!
This guy doesn’t seem to consult with the public before doing anything, no matter how much it costs taxpayers.
What about Staples he just signed teachers up for and all the other US contracts he was so chummy with the US about?
Ford…showing his true liberal colours again.