Latest news with #StephenLecce
Yahoo
31-07-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Ontario officially cancels Starlink contract, won't say how much that cost taxpayers
TORONTO — Ontario has officially cancelled its $100-million contract with Starlink, but the province refuses to say how much it cost taxpayers to get out of the deal. Energy and Mines Minister Stephen Lecce did not answer numerous questions Wednesday about the kill fee the province will have to pay Elon Musk's SpaceX. "I can confirm we've cancelled the contract at this point, and we look forward to bringing forth alternatives to the people of Ontario so we can get people connected," Lecce said at an unrelated press conference. Infrastructure Minister Kinga Surma announced the deal last year to deliver high-speed internet to 15,000 residents in rural and northern Ontario. The deal, which was set to go live in June, would have covered hardware and installation costs but not monthly fees. It would have also included Starlink access for remote First Nations, after a promising test run in 2020 in Pinkangikum First Nation saw high-speed internet working within 15 minutes of hardware delivery. SpaceX won the contract after a "robust and transparent and competitive and fair technical and financial evaluation of multiple qualified parties," Michael Lindsay, the former CEO of Infrastructure Ontario, said last year. Ontario Premier Doug Ford threatened to cancel the contract in February if U.S. tariffs on Canadian goods were imposed. He killed the deal in March when U.S. President Donald Trump moved ahead with tariffs. "It's done, it's gone," Ford said at the time. "We won't award contracts to people who enable and encourage economic attacks on our province ... and our country." Musk supported Trump's bid to become president and was brought into Trump's inner circle after his inauguration in January. Not long after that, Musk glommed on to Trump's threats to annex Canada. In February, a petition signed by several hundred thousand Canadians demanded the federal government remove Musk's Canadian citizenship. Musk became a Canadian citizen because his mother was born in Canada. "Canada is not a real country," Musk posted on X at the time. Musk and Trump have since fallen out of favour with one another. Ford's cancellation of the deal came as part of a suite of measures in retaliation to Trump's tariffs. He pulled American booze off the shelves of Liquor Control Board of Ontario stores in March and has said the U.S. booze ban will be kept in place until Trump removes his tariffs on Canada. Ford also banned American companies from bidding on $30 billion worth of procurement contracts the province awards each year. He also banned U.S. companies from bidding on contracts related to his $200-billion infrastructure plan to build highways, tunnels, transit, hospitals and jails. "We are standing up for Canada," Lecce said Wednesday. Ford should have secured an internet deal by now for those in northern and rural Ontario, said New Democrat and Official Opposition Leader Marit Stiles "What is the premier's plan to deliver on this promise to Ontarians? Handing over hard-earned tax dollars to Elon Musk's company was never the right approach," she said. "Months have passed and we still don't have a plan or even a process that's calling for home-grown solutions." This report by The Canadian Press was first published July 30, 2025. Liam Casey, The Canadian Press
The Independent
30-07-2025
- Business
- The Independent
Ontario doesn't want Elon Musks's internet
Ontario has cancelled a C$100 million satellite high-speed internet contract with Elon Musk's Starlink. The decision serves as retaliation against tariffs imposed by the United States on Canadian goods. Stephen Lecce, Ontario's Minister of Energy and Mines, confirmed the termination, stating Premier Doug Ford had fulfilled his pledge. The contract, signed last November, was intended to provide high-speed internet to 15,000 remote homes and businesses in Ontario. This cancellation occurs amidst ongoing trade negotiations between Canada and the US, with Ontario also implementing other retaliatory measures.
CTV News
30-07-2025
- Health
- CTV News
Ontario plans to double medical isotope production by 2030
Stephen Lecce, Minister of Energy and Mines of Ontario speaks at a press conference as Ontario Premier Doug Ford looks on, in Toronto on Thursday, April 17, 2025. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Arlyn McAdorey TORONTO — Ontario plans to double the number of medical isotopes it produces within four years. Energy and Mines Minister Stephen Lecce says the province is creating an expert panel that will accomplish that feat. Medical isotopes are made at all three nuclear generators in Ontario and at McMaster University. The province says they produce about 50 per cent of the world's isotopes used to treat head, neck and cervical cancers and to sterilize medical equipment. Medical isotopes are also used to diagnose other types of cancers and in medical imaging techniques. The move is part of the province's pivot to attract life sciences companies and manufacturers, following a $146-million investment in the sector last fall. This report by The Canadian Press was first published July 30, 2025. Liam Casey, The Canadian Press
Globe and Mail
30-07-2025
- Business
- Globe and Mail
Ontario confirms Starlink deal dead, won't reveal cost of ending contract
The Ontario government says it has agreed with satellite internet provider Starlink – owned by billionaire Elon Musk – on the terms to end a $92-million contract with the company that Premier Doug Ford had vowed to rip up during his winter re-election campaign in retaliation for U.S. tariffs. But the province would not reveal how much taxpayers will have to pay to get out of the deal. Ontario Minister of Energy and Mines, Stephen Lecce, whose department was overseeing the contract, confirmed on Wednesday that talks to end it had finished and that the province was now aiming to find a Canadian company to replace Starlink. He declined to say how much the cancellation cost. Speaking to reporters at an unrelated event in Toronto and asked whether taxpayers had a right to know how their money was being spent, Mr. Lecce replied: 'I can confirm that the Premier has fulfilled his word, which is to cancel that contract because of the very reasons he cited.' Back in February, as U.S. President Donald Trump ratcheted up his tariff threats, Mr. Ford – after at first declining to kill the deal – vowed that he would scrap a contract with Starlink signed late last year to provide additional Internet access to 15,000 homes in remote parts of the province, including First Nations communities. The Premier said he did not want to do business with Mr. Musk, who was then a prominent ally of the U.S. President and whom Mr. Ford accused of being 'hell-bent on destroying our economy.' As the size of Mr. Trump's tariff threats wavered, Mr. Ford put off the cancellation but later confirmed he was going ahead, along with other measures to limit the use of U.S. companies in Ontario's government procurement and to toss American booze off liquor store shelves. Mr. Ford said in March he did not know how big a penalty or 'kill fee' Ontario would have to pay Starlink. A senior government source acknowledged on Wednesday that there is a kill fee negotiated between the parties but said it is covered by a confidentiality clause. The source said the amount is substantially lower than the total value the contract. The Globe and Mail is not identifying the source as they were not authorized to speak publicly about the deal. The source also confirmed that the government had contemplated passing legislation that would have retroactively undone the contract and erased any obligation to pay Starlink, but it was deemed unnecessary as the parties were able to come to a deal. Seen by the business world as a drastic step, it's a tactic Mr. Ford's Progressive Conservatives also contemplated, but did not end up using, in their talks to end the monopoly of the brewery-owned Beer Store chain. Opinion: Canada must plan for life without Elon Musk's Starlink Ontario NDP Leader Marit Stiles said in e-mailed statement that the deal should have been cancelled long ago – and that the Premier should have already made arrangements with another provider to ensure Internet access in rural and Northern areas. 'What is the Premier's plan to deliver on this promise to Ontarians? Handing over hard-earned tax dollars to Elon Musk's company was never the right approach,' Ms. Stiles said. 'Months have passed and we still don't have a plan or even a process that's calling for home-grown solutions.' Ontario Liberal Leader Bonnie Crombie also said it took the government too long to kill the deal – and said Ontarians needed to know how much it cost them. 'We deserve to know how much getting out of this bad deal cost taxpayers. We deserve to know why Doug Ford chose to do business with Elon Musk – someone who, at the time, was actively helping Donald Trump on his path back to the presidency – when Canadian alternatives were on the table,' Ms. Crombie said. 'Doug Ford doesn't get to play the hero for finally doing what we've been telling him to do for seven months.' When Mr. Ford first threatened to pull the contract in February, Mr. Musk himself issued a muted response on his social-media website X: 'Oh well.' The world's richest man and founder of electric-vehicle maker Tesla has since fallen out and publicly feuded with the U.S. President. But back when Mr. Ford vowed to kill the Starlink deal, he was fresh from performing a gesture that looked like a Nazi salute at Mr. Trump's post-inauguration event, and weighing in to support Germany's leading far-right political party, as well being Mr. Trump's hand-picked government cost-cutting czar and launching a blitz that mass-fired key civil servants and shut down U.S. foreign aid. A copy of the Ontario contract, which was signed with a subsidiary of Starlink's parent company called SpaceX Canada Corp., was obtained by The Globe via a freedom-of-information request. But the redacted document does not include details about the kill fee. Starlink already provides satellite Internet in Ontario outside of this program, and this service is unaffected. Last November, Mr. Ford's government trumpeted the $92-million Starlink deal as a key part of is $4-billion plan to bring high-speed Internet access to every corner of the province. The new added service was to have been up and running by June, with the province's money covering equipment and installation costs, but not monthly fees, for those in the remotest areas of the province. Part the cancelled Starlink plan involved training and employment opportunities for Indigenous communities. The contract was awarded after a competitive procurement that saw Starlink beat out another shortlisted firm, Markham, Ont.-based Xplore Inc.
Toronto Sun
30-07-2025
- Business
- Toronto Sun
Ontario officially cancels $100M Starlink contract, won't say cost to taxpayers
The deal would have delivered high-speed internet to 15,000 residents in rural and northern Ontario. Published Jul 30, 2025 • 1 minute read Starlink satellite antennas are seen at the Internationale Funkausstellung (IFA), the international trade show for consumer electronics and home appliances, on Aug. 31, 2023, during a preview at the fair grounds in Berlin. Photo by ODD ANDERSEN / AFP via Getty Images Ontario has officially cancelled its $100-million contract with Starlink, but the province refuses to say how much it cost taxpayers to get out of the deal. This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. THIS CONTENT IS RESERVED FOR SUBSCRIBERS ONLY Subscribe now to read the latest news in your city and across Canada. Unlimited online access to articles from across Canada with one account. Get exclusive access to the Toronto Sun ePaper, an electronic replica of the print edition that you can share, download and comment on. Enjoy insights and behind-the-scenes analysis from our award-winning journalists. Support local journalists and the next generation of journalists. Daily puzzles including the New York Times Crossword. SUBSCRIBE TO UNLOCK MORE ARTICLES Subscribe now to read the latest news in your city and across Canada. Unlimited online access to articles from across Canada with one account. Get exclusive access to the Toronto Sun ePaper, an electronic replica of the print edition that you can share, download and comment on. Enjoy insights and behind-the-scenes analysis from our award-winning journalists. Support local journalists and the next generation of journalists. Daily puzzles including the New York Times Crossword. REGISTER / SIGN IN TO UNLOCK MORE ARTICLES Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience. Access articles from across Canada with one account. Share your thoughts and join the conversation in the comments. Enjoy additional articles per month. Get email updates from your favourite authors. THIS ARTICLE IS FREE TO READ REGISTER TO UNLOCK. Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience. Access articles from across Canada with one account Share your thoughts and join the conversation in the comments Enjoy additional articles per month Get email updates from your favourite authors Don't have an account? Create Account Energy and Mines Minister Stephen Lecce confirmed the cancellation, but did not answer numerous questions about the kill fee the province will have to pay Elon Musk's SpaceX. Infrastructure Minister Kinga Surma announced the deal last year to deliver high-speed internet to 15,000 residents in rural and northern Ontario. The deal would have also included Starlink internet for remote First Nations. Lecce says the province is working on another high-speed internet solution. Ontario Premier Doug Ford threatened to kill the deal in February if U.S. tariffs on Canadian goods were imposed, and he ultimately pulled the deal in March when U.S. President Donald Trump implemented those tariffs. MLB Toronto & GTA Sunshine Girls Soccer Editorial Cartoons
