FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE - Julian: Canadians pay too much for telecom services. Parliament must vote to save Canadians money

“In any one month, half of Canadians are $200 away from insolvency, but successive Liberal and Conservative governments have allowed cellphone and internet prices to skyrocket�, said Julian. “These are essential services, but the big telecoms have been allowed to gouge Canadians with impunity. That has to end. The NDP five-point plan would put measures in place to ensure this stops now.�

The Liberal government continues to put the profits of these rich telecommunications companies ahead of people. The profits of the “Big Five� telecom companies in 2017 totalled $7.49 billion and their profit margins have reached 38.3 per cent. Despite these astounding profits, Bell, Rogers and Telus received close to $50 million in subsidies and more than $700 million in contracts from Justin Trudeau’s Liberal government.

In London, a two-gigabyte plan that costs $75 in Canada, costs consumers an average of $26.56. In Paris and Rome, that same plan is $30 and $24.70, respectively.

“The price for a two-gigabyte phone plan in Australia is $50 less than it is in Canada per month. That’s a $600 difference annually� said Julian. “Australia is a vast country, with remote communities. It has the same infrastructure challenges as Canada. The fact that Australia has more affordable telecom services at the same time it has better remote broadband and cell phone access proves the point that Canadians are getting ripped off.�

New Democrats commit to improving telecommunication services and making them more affordable for everyone. The NDP plan will introduce a price cap to ensure every Canadian saves money on their bill, will establish a Telecoms Consumers’ Bill of Rights, and will put an end to the egregious and outrageous sales and services practices of the telecom companies to protect Canadians.

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Text of the NDP Opposition Day Motion: https://peterjulian.ca/in-the-house-ndp-opposition-day-motion-on-the-affordability-and-accessibility-of-canadas-telecommunication-services/

For more information, please contact:

Office of Peter Julian, 613-992-4214

[email protected]

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