YorkNet

A: YorkNet’s expansion is a multi-year, multi-phase project. Construction across our municipalities is expected to be fully completed by the end of 2025. Internet services delivered by a third-party provider will become available after construction is completed. It is anticipated high-speed services will be offered starting in mid-2024.

Information Sessions have been held in communities across the Region to provide an overview of YorkNet’s role in bringing dark fibre to underserved communities to enable high-speed internet access.

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A: No, YorkNet installs dark-fibre infrastructure under the ground, they do not supply Internet services directly to homes. 

It may be helpful to picture YorkNet’s dark fibre network like a digital highway. The YorkNet team builds the dark fibre network or highway but it isn’t open to traffic yet. When the traffic is ready to run on it, Galaxy Fibre the Internet Service Provider of the project will work with YorkNet to put the cars on the road, in other words they will light the fibre to bring high-speed internet to homes.

A: An interactive map made available by the Ontario government shows provincially funded high-speed internet projects across the province in underserved areas. By clicking on your street, you can identify if you are part of YorkNet’s project.

A: Individuals streets were deemed underserved by the federal and provincial governments. Funding was only available to underserved streets. 

An interactive map made available by the Ontario government shows provincially funded high-speed internet projects across the province in underserved areas.

A: If your area is deemed served but you have poor internet services, please email @email to allow the YorkNet team to investigate.

• YorkNet's Network Expansion (Fall 2024)
• YorkNet's Network Expansion (Summer 2024)
• YorkNet's Network Expansion (Spring 2024)
• Year in Review: December 2023

• 2022 Annual Report
• 2021 Annual Report
• 2020 Annual Report
• 2019 Annual Report

• YorkNet Celebrates First Connections in Town of Georgina | York Region
• Connect to Innovate (CTI) Funding Announcement (2019)

YorkNet has a process for receiving and responding to feedback, including feedback on how services are delivered to persons with disabilities.

The designated official under the ACA for YorkNet is the General Manager of YorkNet. Any feedback on this plan or on accessibility can be addressed to the designated official.

We welcome your feedback about any accessibility barriers you’ve experienced. 

The designated official is responsible for addressing accessibility feedback. You can provide feedback by online form, email, phone or mail. We will acknowledge accessibility feedback received, other than feedback provided anonymously. All feedback received, other than that submitted anonymously, will be acknowledged within 48 hours. If contact information is shared, we may follow up with you. Personal information you provide will remain confidential and will be managed following privacy laws. This information will only be shared per these laws or with your consent.

• Online: Accessible Canada Act feedback form
• Mail:
  General Manager of YorkNet 
  YorkNet, Accessibility Feedback
  17150 Yonge St, Newmarket, ON L3Y 8V3
• Phone: Accessibility feedback line 1-877-464-9675 ext. 71492
• Email:  @email (include “Accessibility Feedback” in the subject line)

If you need a description of the accessibility feedback process or the accessibility plan in a different format, please contact us. We can provide it in print, large print, braille, audio or electronic format or other agreed-upon formats. 

Alternate formats include, but are not limited to, print (hard copy), large print, braille, audio and electronic.

Contact methods

• Mailing address:
  General Manager of YorkNet 
  YorkNet, Accessibility Feedback
  17150 Yonge St, Newmarket, ON L3Y 8V3
• Phone: Accessibility feedback line 1-877-464-9675 ext. 71492
• Email:  @email (include “Accessibility Feedback” in the subject line)

Barrier

“means anything—including anything physical, architectural, technological or attitudinal, anything that is based on information or communications or anything that is the result of a policy or a practice—that hinders the full and equal participation in society of persons with an impairment, including a physical, mental, intellectual, cognitive, learning, communication or sensory impairment or a functional limitation.”

Disability

“means any impairment, including a physical, mental, intellectual, cognitive, learning, communication or sensory impairment—or a functional limitation—whether permanent, temporary or episodic in nature, or evident or not, that, in interaction with a barrier, hinders a person’s full and equal participation in society.”

Accessibility statement

York Region and YorkNet Statement of Organizational Commitment 

The Regional Municipality of York (York Region) and its wholly-owned subsidiary, YTN Telecom Network Inc. (YorkNet) are committed to meeting the accessibility needs of people with disabilities in a timely and proactive manner and will use reasonable efforts to provide equitable access to its programs, goods, services and facilities in a way that respects a person’s dignity and independence.

Employment

Further consultation will be required to identify barriers to employment within our organizations as we strive for continuous improvement. YorkNet’s employment services are provided by York Region.  York Region is committed to improving accessibility and creating an accessible work environment for all employees across the employment life cycle. A detailed list of York Region’s actions and its consultation process can be found in our Accessibility Plans.

The built environment

Further consultation will be required to identify barriers within the built environments managed by our organizations as we strive for continuous improvement. The headquarters for the telecommunications operations for YorkNet is located within one of the administrative buildings owned by York Region.  York Region is committed to improving accessibility in its built environment and incorporates accessibility features when building new, or making planned significant alterations to existing, Region-controlled public spaces. A detailed list of York Region’s actions and its consultation process can be found in our Accessibility Plans. 

Information and communication technologies (ICT)

York Region’s IT Services Branch is responsible for the provision of all IT related services for YorkNet.  York Region prioritizes meeting Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG 2.0) Level AA. YorkNet and York Region will continue to make improvements to make information easy to find through technology. A detailed list of York Region’s actions and its consultation process can be found in in our Accessibility Plans.

Communication, other than ICT

York Region and YorkNet prioritize offering an excellent accessible communications experience to everyone through the following actions: 

• Provide Accessible Customer Service training to all staff and volunteers, and to agents who provide service to the public on our behalf
• Accommodate the use of assistive devices, support persons and service animals  
• Receive and respond to feedback regarding the manner in which goods or services are provided to people with disabilities
• Provide notice of temporary service disruptions to programs, services or facilities

Some areas of improvement include ensuring customer service numbers and contact information is easy to find and accessible and making any automated systems accessible and easy to use.

Procurement of goods, services and facilities

York Region’s Procurement Office is responsible for the provision of all procurement related services for YorkNet. York Region is taking steps to review and update the Region’s accessible procurement practices and procedures in place to ensure they are up to date and reflect best practices. Where possible, York Region includes accessibility criteria when buying or acquiring goods, services, facilities and self-service kiosks. If it is not practicable to do so, staff will provide an explanation, upon request. The Region considers accessibility, along with other criteria like the quality and the cost. 

Consultations

The ACA requires an Accessibility Plan to be developed, reviewed and updated in consultation with persons with disabilities. The ACA Accessibility Plan for York Region and YorkNet relies and builds on the work to improve accessibility across York Region undertaken as part of our existing accessibility plan. YorkNet and York Region use the consultations, improvements, actions and learnings from the development of the accessibility plan to guide and develop the ACA Accessibility Plan.

As part of York Region’s obligations under provincial legislation, York Region has been conducting consultations and has established an Accessibility Advisory Committee. York Region collects feedback about its existing accessibility plan from people with disabilities, the community and the York Region Accessibility Advisory Committee (YRAAC). The York Region Accessibility Advisory Committee (YRAAC) celebrated its 20th anniversary in 2023.  Since its inception in 2003, YRAAC members have participated in more than 90 formal meetings and provided feedback and consultation on over 250 presentations. YRAAC will be consulted on an ongoing basis in the development of our ACA Accessibility Plan.

Past consultations have been undertaken with staff, including meetings and one-on-one conversations with subject matter experts, consultations with York Region’s Community of Belonging for Staff with Disabilities, and its Diversity and Inclusion Staff Committee on the development of provincial accessibility plans relied on and referred to by our ACA Accessibility Plan. The survey included targeted outreach to community agencies serving York Region residents with disabilities, Municipal Diversity and Inclusion Group (MDIG), York Region Accessibility Advisory Committee (YRAAC) and accessibility advisory committees within York Region’s nine local municipalities.