Adam Prudhomme
Editor
It didn’t take long for Mike Bossio to find a role that allowed him to continue his passion of advocating for the rural community.
The former MP of Hastings-Lennox and Addington took some time off following the October election before taking a job within the office of Maryam Monsef, Minister for Women and Gender Equality and Rural Economic Development in February.
Bossio’s main role is to help deliver high-speed broadband coverage for rural Canada while also investing in rural infrastructure. He’ll do so while splitting time between Lonsdale and Gatineau.
“It’s been fast and furious and a lot of work,” Bossio said of the first few weeks on the job. “A lot of working hours trying to get things right. It’s also a lot of challenges, but there’s a lot of good people working really hard together to try and come up with as many solutions as possible, big, small and in between, short, medium and long term.”
Having spent the last four years as an MP, his new job offers him a look at the other side of the coin.
“It’s one thing to come up with the ideas and lobby for them and push them through the system,” said Bossio. “Now that I’m on the other side, what an incredible opportunity to see how these ideas become policies and programs and services.”
Bossio says COVID-19 and the measures put in place to limit its spread have highlighted just how important it is for all Canadians to have internet access.
“The level of the importance has been unequivocally apparent,” said Bossio of broadband internet access for rural communities during a time when all levels of government are making major announcements daily. “It’s the dissemination of the information and updates, but it’s also the ability to apply for these programs put forward by the government.”
He notes there could also be a rise in the amount of people working from home in the aftermath of the virus as well.
Bossio adds that a shift to online learning and telehealth amid social distancing has made the need for broadband internet that much more necessary. He says that need won’t completely disappear once the pandemic is over, either.
Though the country is still far from out of the woods yet in regards to the pandemic, Bossio says he’s aiming to make the most of the situation and learn as much as possible from the crisis. In a time when all levels of government are announcing unprecedented spending to help mitigate the harm of the virus and keep people safe, Bossio is looking to make sure the funding makes the most positive impact.
“As much as you hate to think of it in this way, this is an opportunity to think outside the box,” said Bossio. “So we’re better prepared for the future. What can we do about income inequality, the climate and infrastructure so we come out of this in an even better position than we were in before.”