The Government of Canada has proposed a new policy direction to the Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission (CRTC) to put in place new rules to improve competition and support consumers, leading to lower prices and better telecommunications services for Canadians. The CRTC is an independent administrative tribunal that regulates and supervises broadcasting and telecommunications in Canada.
Mission statement
The Government of Canada is making every effort to ensure that telecommunications services are innovative, competitive, and—most crucially—affordable for all Canadians. That's why the government is renewing its approach for increased competition with a direction to the CRTC to create a more effective regulatory framework, improve consumer rights, advance universal access and improve the timeliness of regulation. The direction outlines key policy goals to ensure that Canada's telecommunications networks are able to support the latest innovative applications, that they are available to all Canadians regardless of where they live or work, and especially, that prices are affordable.
The proposed policy direction outlines in clear terms the government's priorities for these essential services, and the CRTC is responsible for implementation. Moving forward, this policy direction will apply generally to all of the CRTC's telecommunications decisions and activities.
- Order Issuing a Direction to the CRTC on a Renewed Approach to Telecommunications Policy
- Backgrounder: Summary of the Government of Canada's new proposed policy direction to CRTC
- Backgrounder: Renewing Canada's approach to Telecommunications Policy: Context for Action
Comments on the direction
The period for comments on the proposed order closed on July 19, 2022. All comments received will be posted on Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada's Spectrum management and telecommunications website.