Ontario residents may never know the costs associated with the province’s cancellation of the SpaceX Starlink contract last year.
According to Premier Doug Ford, the kill fee for the contract was significantly lower than the full $100 million contract value. However, when pressed, he confirmed the amount will not be publicly released after the province and SpaceX signed a confidential agreement.
The contract, dubbed ONSAT, was intended to provide internet access to Northern Ontario First Nations and remote communities, as well as to support mining exploration in the region.
The deal would see Ontario cover the costs of Starlink terminals and their installation, and would guarantee priority internet coverage in the region. The contract did not cover monthly user fees.
However, as US-Canadian relations continued to sour in early 2025, Doug Ford moved to cancel the contract in July 2025. In addition to the cancellation, Ford also pulled US alcohol off the shelves of the Liquor Control Board of Ontario.
The satellite deal with Starlink was just one part of the province’s high-speed internet plan rolled out last year. The plan also included laying fibre-optic cables throughout the region to connect remote and northern communities better. The Premier’s office confirmed that the province is still identifying a suitable alternative partner for satellite internet services.
