In response to Prime Minister Trudeau’s $2.14 billion loan to a Quebec-based satellite company, MP Michael Barrett has sought an estimate from Elon Musk on the cost of providing Starlink services to rural Canadians.
Elon Musk pictured (right)
On Friday, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau revealed a $2.14 billion funding allocation for what he described as Canada’s largest space initiative.
The funding will be provided to Telesat, a company based in Quebec, to supposedly help deliver more affordable internet access to Canadians, focusing on Indigenous communities and industries such as mining and forestry.
Barrett responded to Global News on X, which posted the announcement, commenting, “Hey @elonmusk—how much would it cost to provide @Starlink to every Canadian household that doesn’t have high speed?”
He additionally questioned whether the substantial loan is a comprehensive solution for enhancing access, competition, and service in broadband connectivity, considering the private sector isn’t investing in the project.
“If this $2.14 BILLION plan is the panacea of expanding access, competition, and service – where is the interest from private investors and banks?” Barrett said.
Starlink, the satellite internet constellation project that Barrett is exploring, was created by SpaceX, the aerospace firm established by Elon Musk.
According to its website, Starlink aims to provide high-speed, low-latency internet access to underserved and remote areas worldwide.
“Reckless and needless spending”
Canadians are criticizing Trudeau’s substantial funding, arguing that this system is redundant as similar services already exist and deem it “reckless and unnecessary spending of our tax dollars.”
Other X users contend that the initiative could restrict options, stating, “Trudeau wants to have another monopoly and control what we can access on the internet.”
UPDATE
Elon Musk responded to Michael Barrett’s 𝕏 post where Barrett inquired about the would-be cost of providing Starling to “every Canadian household that doesn’t have high speed.”
According to Musk, the cost would be “less than half” of the amount of the $2.14 billion loan that was recently announced by the Liberal government.
