Question Period Note: TELECOMMUNICATIONS – REDUCING THE COST OF TELECOM BILLS

What is the Government of Canada doing to reduce Canadians’ telecommunications bills?

• All Canadians should be able to access essential services including high quality and affordable telecommunications services.
• The Government of Canada has made significant progress to reduce the cost of Internet and cell phone plans, and to increase access to these services.
• Budget 2024 also amended the Telecommunications Act, making it easier for Canadians to switch providers or renew plans and find better deals.
• The government will continue to push for more competition and better prices for consumers.

Budget 2024 Amendments to the Telecommunications Act

• Amendments to the Telecommunications Act introduced in Budget 2024: ¬

o Prohibited carriers from charging consumers extra fees to switch carriers;¬
o Require carriers to help consumers identify plans, which may include lower-cost plans, in advance of the end of a contract; ¬and
o Require carriers to provide a self-service option, such as an online portal, for customers to easily switch between or end plans with a provider.

• The Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission is responsible for implementing these measures and is consulting on specific requirements.

Progress on Pricing

• Data from Statistics Canada shows that in the two years since the Rogers-Shaw transaction wireless prices declined by 34.5% and Internet prices declined by 4.9%.

• Some declines have been more dramatic. For example, in 2022, 60 gigabyte plans were being sold for an average of $105 per month. In August 2025, these plans were available in the range of $40 to $50 per month.

• Customers out of contract and dissatisfied with their current providers should consider switching to take advantage of the improved competition.

State of Competition

• A range of measures have been taken to support competition including spectrum policies that promote competition and the policy direction to the Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission.

• The addition of a new fourth player, following Quebecor’s acquisition of Freedom Wireless, and its additional spectrum and network access provides better competition against the national carriers.

• These measures have resulted in lower prices, expansion of 5G service, and new unlimited roaming options.

• The CRTC continues to implement the policy direction and plans additional actions to support consumers and affordability, including a review of the consumer codes and action to tackle hidden fees.

Data on Wireless and Internet Pricing

Multiple sources also show progress on telecom pricing. This includes Statistics Canada price indices as well as monitoring by Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada (ISED) and the CRTC. Financial market analysts that advise on investing the telecom sector such as RBC, Scotiabank, and TD have all noted the increase in competition in recent years and associated impact on prices.

Budget 2024 Amendments

In Budget 2024, the Government of Canada introduced pro-consumer amendments to the Telecommunications Act, including the prohibition of switching fees, mandating notifications at the end of contracts, and requiring providers to establish self-service mechanisms. The CRTC is responsible for establishing the details of the provisions and began consulting with stakeholders on the details in 2024. The new rules are anticipated to be established by the CRTC soon and brought into effect by an Order-in-Council.

Spectrum Matters

ISED has taken successive actions through spectrum licensing to encourage competition. In November 2023, the 3800 Megahertz (MHz) auction implemented a cross-band cap ensuring access to spectrum for smaller carriers. Since 2022, these measures have more than doubled their spectrum holdings, further strengthening their ability to offer competitive services. Carriers are improving their networks with these frequencies.

Canadian Radio‑television and Telecommunications Commission (CRTC)

On February 10, 2023, the government implemented a new policy direction to the CRTC on a renewed approach to telecommunications policy that provides specific instructions to enhance and improve Internet and wireless competition. Following that direction, the CRTC launched a review of Internet competition rules and issued a new mandatory wholesale Internet access framework on August 13, 2024. This is an approach that allows companies to access networks of other companies outside their traditional service areas at regulated rates, in order to provide retail Internet service there. On August 6, 2025, the government declined requests by some telecommunications carriers to alter the CRTC’s framework to restrict the largest telecommunications carriers – Bell, Rogers and TELUS – from making use of mandatory wholesale access. Over the next year, the CRTC is expected to revise the regulated rates for wholesale Internet access, which have a downstream effect on retail Internet prices. The CRTC also continues to implement its Mobile Virtual Network Operator model that enables smaller providers to get access to the mobile networks of Bell, TELUS, and Rogers to better compete. The CRTC has also taken additional steps to address specific consumer concerns, including calling on companies to provide affordable roaming options and report on their efforts, as well as planning regulatory processes to prevent hidden fees.