Evidence of meeting #50 for Industry and Technology in the 45th Parliament, 1st session. (The original version is on Parliament’s site.) The winning word was crtc.
A video is available from Parliament.
Vice-President, Telecommunications, Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission
Our role in this is to create those positive incentives. That's what we're doing through the initiatives we have within our organization.
Conservative
Vice-President, Telecommunications, Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission
There's a lot of work being done across the country to try to fix this problem and ensure that all Canadians are connected.
Conservative
Harb Gill Conservative Windsor West, ON
Again, it comes down to accountability and responsibility. What we are seeking here from you is transparency, and clearly I don't think we're getting it, sadly.
Those are my questions, sir.
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Ben Carr
Thank you, Mr. Gill.
Did you want to respond, Ms. Wright, or leave it there?
Director General, Strategic Policy, Consumer, Analytics and Strategy, Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission
We absolutely will be holding the service providers to account for the information they're providing about where they provide service, and we'll be very diligent in that task to ensure that Canadians have all the information they need about the services they're offered.
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Ben Carr
Thank you, Mr. Gill.
Mr. Ste‑Marie, you may go ahead. You have six minutes.
Gabriel Ste-Marie Bloc Joliette—Manawan, QC
Thank you, Mr. Chair.
Good morning to our witnesses. My thanks to all three of you for being here.
Yesterday, Stéphanie Paquette, the CRTC commissioner who represents the Quebec region, met with the greater Joliette chamber of commerce. She talked about the CRTC, and I think everyone who attended really appreciated it.
In terms of Bill C‑268 and the measures relating to the CRTC, have you assessed the financial impact? Where do you stand on that?
Are you able to do everything my colleague Ms. Dandurand's bill requires you to do within the prescribed time frames?
Director General, Strategic Policy, Consumer, Analytics and Strategy, Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission
Sorry, I'm a bit—
General Counsel and Executive Director, Legal Services, Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission
I can start.
In terms of what we're being asked to do under the bill, I would say that, with the mandate we were given by Parliament through the Telecommunications Act, with the power to collect data, we are already working towards the objectives set out in the bill. For that reason, I think we have a good lead in terms of when it comes to what we are being asked to do under the bill.
Bloc
Gabriel Ste-Marie Bloc Joliette—Manawan, QC
All right. Thank you.
The bill also requires that a review be completed every five years. Shortly, we will be debating the possibility of doing that review every two years.
How do you see the five-year and two-year time frames? Are you able to meet those deadlines?
Would a two-year review time frame be more appropriate given the changing reality and technological landscape?
General Counsel and Executive Director, Legal Services, Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission
The CRTC reviews its regulatory policies and procedures on a regular basis, so as far as the need to review how we collect data is concerned, it's part of our everyday work.
Bloc
Gabriel Ste-Marie Bloc Joliette—Manawan, QC
With respect to the funds you administer to support infrastructure in areas where there isn't a business case, would you consider doing what was done for Internet coverage? I mean letting Quebec City administer the funding, or does that fall under the Department of Industry? As we saw, things moved quite fast and the approach was successful.
Vice-President, Telecommunications, Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission
We have a $150‑million fund we use to help companies build networks.
We're not able to transfer that money. That money comes from industry. Industry contributes to the fund, and then that fund is used to help build networks.
Bloc
Gabriel Ste-Marie Bloc Joliette—Manawan, QC
I'd like to ask you about licensing.
With the conditions of licence, is it possible to provide good coverage in regions? What do you think?
We can't revisit old licences, but what can you say about that?
Vice-President, Telecommunications, Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission
Are you asking about what we're doing in the Far North?
Vice-President, Telecommunications, Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission
We've done a great deal of analysis in the Far North. A few years ago, we undertook to find out how we could improve the situation in the Far North and make it a bit fairer.
We found that there were opportunities to increase competition that will result in lower prices in the far north.
We're also very focused on the far north with our broadband fund. We had one call for applications that was very much focused on how we can help build networks within the far north. That is oftentimes where we are seeing the lack of connectivity.
Bloc
Gabriel Ste-Marie Bloc Joliette—Manawan, QC
Companies send you coverage information. How often do you notice that the information you're getting doesn't reflect the facts on the ground?
The different companies don't apply the same standards. Is that lack of standardization significant?
Director General, Strategic Policy, Consumer, Analytics and Strategy, Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission
That's precisely the substance of the decision that was announced on Friday. It's about standardizing the data collection. Normally, under our process, we collect the data every January, but data are constantly updated throughout the year.
Bloc
Gabriel Ste-Marie Bloc Joliette—Manawan, QC
I have one last question for you. Again, thank you for being here.
According to a CRTC document, 99.5% of the Canadian population has access to mobile services, while your research also indicates that many Canadians continue to experience significant coverage gaps.
How do you reconcile those two things?
Director General, Strategic Policy, Consumer, Analytics and Strategy, Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission
Those are the current data, and they come from the industry itself. The point of the decision announced Friday is to change the data collection system, to increase data quality and accuracy in that context.
General Counsel and Executive Director, Legal Services, Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission
I can elaborate on what Mr. Carter said.
There's a difference between network access and network reliability. The reason we made the decision that was published last week was to make sure that the service reporting of telecommunications companies gives us evidence on those two components, access and reliability.
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Ben Carr
Thank you, Mr. Ste‑Marie.
Colleagues, I will briefly suspend to allow us to prepare for clause-by-clause.
I'd like to thank our witnesses for being here today.
Because we have some members who are probably going through clause-by-clause for the first time, I will introduce the process. Just as a reminder, clause-by-clause is not done in camera. It's a public process that plays out here. We'll come back after suspension and enter into that conversation.
Thank you.