Check out the footnotes for a link to the full Order outlining the new policy direction!
On May 26, our federal government announced a new policy direction for the Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission (CRTC), alongside an open consultation for ordinary folks, industry, and experts to weigh in before it goes into effect.4
But what does that mean exactly? With this new policy direction, the government is choosing what instructions they’ll be giving the CRTC moving forward — and those instructions impact your Internet and cell phone bills.
In the past, without clear and binding instructions to promote affordability, choice, and competition, the CRTC made decisions that hurt people in Canada and benefitted Big Telecom.5 That’s why it’s absolutely critical that we speak up to guarantee the new CRTC policy direction has the best interests of people in Canada front and centre.
The version of the policy direction we’ve seen so far needs work — and that’s where you come in. While it has some good bones (Affordability? Consumer interests? Now we’re cooking!), it’s WAY too general. Instead of concrete methods to hold the CRTC accountable, it offers vague instructions that the CRTC must do more to make competition and affordability a priority.
Talk is unfortunately cheap. People in Canada need the new policy direction to include actual details, targets, and enforcement.
Fixing this policy direction would be a big win for Canadians — but a HUGE loss for Big Telecom’s price gouging tactics. You can bet that their lobbyists are already hard at work picking this order apart, and whispering in Minister Champagne’s ear about why affordability, competition, and empowered consumers are dangerous (*cough cough* for their profits).
We can’t afford to stay silent. This is our chance to chart Canada’s course towards cheaper, fairer Internet and cell phone prices — and help put an end to Big Telecom's capture of our CRTC. Tell our government what you want the CRTC to do about making connectivity affordable and accessible. Submit your comments to the consultation NOW!