TORONTO,Jan. 18 2005 --Michael Sabia, President and CEO of Bell
Canada Enterprises (BCE), today introduced Bell Canada's new Connected to
Communities investment program. Speaking at the Economic Club of Toronto this
afternoon, Mr. Sabia said the new program represents a tighter focus and
deeper commitment by Bell on building strong, healthy and vibrant communities
across Canada.
    "We've connected Canadians and their communities for the last 125 years,"
said Mr. Sabia. "Our goal is to take our technology, our focus on innovation,
and the commitment of our people to write a new chapter in our corporate
citizenship."
    With the new Connected to Communities program, Bell will build upon the
company's existing corporate giving initiatives to focus on projects that
encourage economic development and the strengthening of social foundations at
the community level, with an emphasis on initiatives that benefit children and
youth. The company also intends to seek out projects that have been successful
at the local level and help extend them to other communities across Canada.
    "The real spirit of corporate citizenship is about using the capabilities
of a company - its financial resources and its know-how - to invest in the
capacity of communities to solve problems and adapt to a world of
high-velocity change," said Mr. Sabia. "It's also worth doing because strong,
connected communities go hand in hand with economic expansion, creativity and
innovation."
    As part of Bell's new investment program, the company has committed to
increase its annual community investment budget by approximately 40% from
$19 million this year to approximately $26 million in 2007.
    Funding guidelines and information about projects the Connected to
Communities program supports are available at www.bell.ca/community .

    Please visit www.bce.ca for a copy of Mr. Sabia's presentation to
the
Economic Club of Toronto.

    About Bell Canada
    -----------------
    Bell Canada, Canada's national leader in communications, provides
connectivity to residential and business customers through wired and wireless
voice and data communications, local and long distance phone services, high
speed and wireless Internet access, IP-broadband services, e-business
solutions and satellite television services. Bell Canada is wholly owned by
BCE Inc. For more information please visit www.bell.ca .



For further information: France Poulin, Bell Canada, Media Relations,
(514) 391-2007, 1-877 391-2007, france.poulin@bell.ca