While several Canadian provinces are rethinking their business relationships with Elon Musk’s companies, Quebec has decided to move forward with a new $826,007 contract with SpaceX to install Starlink satellite internet service in courthouses located in remote regions.
The decision comes as Canada faces heightened trade tensions with the United States, following U.S. President Donald Trump’s administration introducing tariffs on a wide range of products and raw materials. These tariffs have led some provinces to distance themselves from U.S.-based companies in retaliation, mainly picking on Musk’s companies like Tesla and SpaceX.
Several provinces have removed Tesla, but no other U.S.-based automakers from their electric vehicle (EV) rebate programs. Ontario has outright cancelled a $100 million Starlink contract to provide internet to remote areas.
Even Quebec has said they are considering a move away from Starlink, but they appear to sticking with them for the foreseeable future. On Monday the government awarded Starlink a new contract to provide high-speed internet for rural courthouses that serve rural and Indigenous communities, where connectivity remains a challenge.
Explaining their decision to go with Starlink, the government highlighted the fact there are currently no viable alternatives to Musk’s satellite internet solution.
“There is currently no satisfactory alternative equivalent to Starlink technology that can meet the needs of the Circuit Court while also providing sufficient performance,” Quebec Justice Department spokesperson Cathy Chenard explained to the Montreal Gazette.
Chenard also noted that efforts are ongoing to identify suitable alternatives, but none are currently capable of meeting the technical requirements for consistent service in remote areas.
Quebec’s existing relationship with Starlink predates the current tariff situation. The province had previously invested approximately $130 million in a Starlink-led project to expand high-speed internet access to households in remote communities.
