Bill C-555 (Historical)

Telecommunications Transparency and Fairness Act

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

This bill was last introduced in the 40th Parliament, 3rd Session, which ended in March 2011.

This bill was previously introduced in the 40th Parliament, 2nd Session.

Sponsor

David McGuinty  Liberal

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

Status

Outside the Order of Precedence (a private member's bill that hasn't yet won the draw that determines which private member's bills can be debated), as of Oct. 29, 2009
(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.