Telecom services still too expensive, industry minister says


CBC
Thu, January 4, 2024 

Toronto-based Rogers Communications said Wednesday it would hike the cost of some of its wireless plans for non-contract customers. (Patrick Morrell/CBC - image credit)

Canadians are still paying too much for telecom services, the industry minister said Thursday, one day after Rogers Communications said it was raising the cost of some of its wireless phone plans.

Rogers said Wednesday it would hike the cost of some of its wireless plans for non-contract customers. Bell is also reportedly increasing some of its existing wireless phone plan prices in February, according to a report by MobileSyrup.

"Let's be clear, while some progress has been made to lower prices, Canadians still pay too much and see too little competition," Industry Minister François-Philippe Champagne said in a statement to CBC News.

"That is why, last year, I issued a policy direction to the CRTC to make sure that competition, affordability, and consumer rights would be at the core of CRTC decisions."

Nearly two dozen "enforceable" conditions were attached to Rogers's merger with Shaw Communications, including reducing costs for customers, when Champagne announced the deal's approval in 2023.

"While prices for some wireless plans have declined by more than 22 per cent over the past year, the planned price increases to certain month-to-month plans that have recently been announced go against the direction we set at a time when Canadians are struggling to make ends meet," Champagne said Thursday.

"I strongly urge companies and carriers to seriously consider customers over profits at this time."

The long-brewing deal, first announced in March 2021, was subject to a number of regulatory hurdles as opponents expressed concerns about decreased competition.

At the time, Rogers CEO Tony Staffieri pledged in an interview that prices would go down for customers.

Bell has not responded to a request for comment.