Bill C-555 (Historical)

Telecommunications Clarity and Fairness Act

An Act to provide clarity and fairness in the provision of telecommunication services in Canada

This bill was last introduced in the 39th Parliament, 2nd Session, which ended in September 2008.

Sponsor

David McGuinty  Liberal

Introduced as a private member’s bill. (These don’t often become law.)

Status

Second reading (House), as of June 4, 2008
(This bill did not become law.)

Summary

This is from the published bill. The Library of Parliament often publishes better independent summaries.

This enactment requires the Governor in Council to direct the Minister of Industry to amend the conditions for PCS and cellular spectrum licences to include a prohibition against the levying of any additional fee or charge that is not part of the subscriber’s monthly fee or monthly plan rate. It also requires the Governor in Council to direct the Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission (CRTC) to gather information, seek input and make a report on competition, consumer-protection, and consumer-choice issues relating to telecommunication services in Canada.

Elsewhere

All sorts of information on this bill is available at LEGISinfo, an excellent resource from the Library of Parliament. You can also read the full text of the bill.

Telecommunications Transparency and Fairness ActRoutine Proceedings

October 29th, 2009 / 10:05 a.m.
See context

Liberal

David McGuinty Liberal Ottawa South, ON

moved for leave to introduce Bill C-555, An Act to provide transparency and fairness in the provision of telecommunication services in Canada.

Mr. Speaker, I rise to present my private member's bill, the “get connected fairly act”, which would direct the Minister of Industry to amend the conditions for PCS and cellular spectrum licences.

It would also require the government to direct the CRTC to gather information, seek input and make a major report on competition, consumer protection and consumer choice issues relating to telecommunications services in Canada.

I believe this goes some distance in addressing what many Canadians see as unfairness and a lack of transparency in monthly charges for services.

There have been discussions among the parties, and I would like to ask for unanimous consent to give this bill the same number it had in the 39th Parliament, which was Bill C-555.

Telecommunications Clarity and Fairness ActRoutine Proceedings

June 2nd, 2008 / 3:05 p.m.
See context

Liberal

David McGuinty Liberal Ottawa South, ON

moved for leave to introduce Bill C-555, An Act to provide clarity and fairness in the provision of telecommunication services in Canada.

Mr. Speaker, I appreciate having 30 seconds or so to speak to this bill, which would direct the Minister of Industry to amend the conditions for PCS and cellular spectrum licences to include a prohibition against the levying of any additional fee or charge that would not part of a subscriber's monthly fee or monthly plan rate.

It also would require the government to direct the CRTC to gather information and seek input and make a major report on competition, consumer protection and consumer choice issues relating to telecommunication services in Canada.

I hope this goes some distance in addressing what many Canadians believe to be unfairness and a lack of transparency in the charging for services that are occurring on a monthly basis, including system access fees, which the federal government ceased requiring to be collected by the telephone companies some 21 years ago. Still today 18.5 million Canadian cellphone users are paying monthly charges. We intend to address this through the bill.

(Motions deemed adopted, bill read the first time and printed)