Industry and Technology Committee on Oct. 6th, 2026

[The Chair, Liberal, Ben Carr]

Good morning and welcome.

I hope you had a good week in your ridings.

We are continuing this morning with our study of the private member's bill, Bill C-268.

I can confirm that the audiovisual checks were completed.

Colleagues, I have spoken with members representing all parties. We're going to reduce the number of rounds of questioning today. We're going to provide our colleagues from the CRTC, whom I'll introduce in a moment, with a five-minute introductory statement, and that will be followed by a six-minute round for each party. That will complete our testimony for today, at which point we will enter into clause-by-clause consideration, and then there's some other committee business that we will go in camera for regarding consideration of our reports.

First, however, we will hear from the officials from the Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission, or CRTC, who are with us today.

We have with us Mr. Sheehan Carter, director general, strategic policy, consumer, analytics and strategy; Ms. Rachelle Frenette, general counsel and executive director, legal services; and Ms. Leila Wright, vice-president, telecommunications.

As I understand it, Mr. Carter will start, followed by Ms. Wright.

You will have up to five minutes between the two of you, at which point we will enter into our rounds of questioning.

With that, Mr. Carter, I'll turn the floor over to you, sir.

[Sheehan Carter, Director General, Strategic Policy, Consumer, Analytics and Strategy, Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission]

Good morning, and thank you for the opportunity to appear before your committee.

Before I begin, I would like to acknowledge that we are gathered on the traditional unceded territory of the Algonquin Anishinabe people.

I'm joined today by my colleagues Leila Wright, vice-president of telecommunications, and Rachelle Frenette, our general counsel.

As you know, the CRTC is an independent, quasi-judicial tribunal that regulates the Canadian communications sector in the public interest. We hold public consultations on telecommunications and broadcasting matters, and make decisions based on the public record.

We are pleased to assist your study of Bill C‑268. As the bill recognizes, the CRTC and Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada, or ISED, play a role in helping ensure that Canadians have access to high-quality cellphone services.

The CRTC's role under the bill is to collect accurate data from service providers about their networks, including where services are available, and share this information with ISED.

Like committee members, we've heard from Canadians about dead zones and dropped calls in places where maps say they should have full service, such as Pincher Creek, Alberta; Chelsea, Nova Scotia; and even territorial capitals, such as Whitehorse.

When Canadians have difficulty accessing reliable Internet and cellphone services, it can be a real threat to their livelihoods and even their lives, so we understand the importance of these services, and we're listening to what Canadians are telling us.

Earlier this year, we launched a public consultation to improve how cellphone coverage data is collected and reported, and last week we acted. The CRTC is introducing new requirements for cellphone service providers to give more detailed and accurate coverage information. Canadians will be able to compare networks and provide feedback when their real-world experience does not match the information on ISED's national broadband map. With better information, service providers and governments will also be able to decide where improvements are needed.

Now I would like to hand things off to Leila to discuss our work helping Canadians get access to high-quality Internet and cellphone services.

[Leila Wright, Vice-President, Telecommunications, Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission]

Thank you, Sheehan.

Good morning.

We watched your last meeting and heard stories that underlined how crucial it is that all Canadians have connectivity no matter where they are.

We all have these stories that stick with us. As a parent, the one that sticks with me is that of Angelina Arrowmaker. Angelina had to move more than 200 kilometres to Yellowknife at the start of grade 11, because her community lacked reliable connectivity for virtual education.

These are the stories that we are hoping to make a thing of the past. Connecting all Canadians provides vital services, opens doors and creates opportunities.

A key question at your last meeting was how to get coverage to underserved areas. Let me briefly explain how the CRTC is doing its part.

First, since 2019, the CRTC has helped allocate funding for reliable Internet and cellphone services. It is improving service in more than 320 communities and along more than 650 kilometres of major roads, often in remote areas.

Second, our wireless competition policy creates strong incentives for providers to improve coverage. Competitors are now offering cellphone service in nearly 100 new communities across seven provinces.

Third, when networks are built, we want them to be strong and resilient. We have an ongoing public proceeding to develop policies that will help build high-quality networks.

The good news is that there is broad alignment among Canadians, governments and industry that everyone should be able to connect to reliable and high-quality Internet and cellphone services. At the CRTC, we are doing our part to advance connectivity for Canadians.

Thank you again for inviting us, and we look forward to your questions.

[The Chair, Liberal, Ben Carr]

Thank you, Mr. Carter and Ms. Wright.

We will now begin the first round. As I mentioned initially, each party will have six minutes.

Mr. Ntumba, you may go ahead. You have six minutes.

[Bienvenu-Olivier Ntumba, Liberal, Mont-Saint-Bruno—L’Acadie, QC]

Good morning, Ms. Wright. How are you?

[Leila Wright]

I'm fine. Thank you.

[Bienvenu-Olivier Ntumba, Liberal, Mont-Saint-Bruno—L’Acadie, QC]

As a Canadian who takes the train from Quebec City to Ottawa, I'd like to ask you something. When the train travels through certain areas, I sometimes lose connectivity, and I could be in the middle of a meeting on my cellphone or tablet. I imagine you get asked this a lot, but I'd like to hear your answer. Is that a common occurrence for someone like me who regularly takes the train to Ottawa?

Every time I take it, I have to hold my meetings before or after my trip. Seeing as I'm comfortably seated for two hours, I wish I could work and get things done in the comfort of the train, but I can't.

What do you say to that?

[Leila Wright]

Thank you for your question.

Connectivity is a huge issue in Canada. We're taking many steps to address the problem.

Generally, there are two types of areas in Canada. There are areas where there is a business case to build networks, and there are areas where that business case doesn't exist, either because the areas are rural or remote or because of population density issues. We're trying to manage both of those situations in different ways.

In areas where there is a business case, we have put in place a policy that allows competitors to use the large carriers' networks to provide services to Canadians and then to build out in those areas. In areas where there is no business case, we have a fund that we use to help carriers build out. This fund is a small part of a very large initiative across all levels of government to help build out those areas.

[Bienvenu-Olivier Ntumba, Liberal, Mont-Saint-Bruno—L’Acadie, QC]

Thank you for your answer.

Canadians, as a whole, aren't always familiar with what the CRTC does.

I'm sharing my time with my colleague Ms. O'Rourke, so this will be my last question.

I was in Nunavut recently with colleagues for our rural caucus, and we saw that, outside certain areas, there is little connectivity in northern Canada. Of course, I was talking about the Ottawa area, Montreal and Quebec City, which are major urban centres, but rural areas don't even have a voice.

What do you say to people in those communities today, so they know that they can count on you and that their connectivity will improve?

[Rachelle Frenette, General Counsel and Executive Director, Legal Services, Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission]

I'll go first, and then my colleague Ms. Wright can comment.

Certainly, access to telecommunications services in the Far North is an issue the CRTC is very concerned about. We have different regulatory policies specific to the north. Ms. Wright referred to those areas where a business case doesn't necessarily exist to build networks. We have tools such as funds and specific regulations for telecom companies that serve those areas. That helps to ensure basic service, so we can then establish regulatory frameworks to improve service in those areas. We want to make sure that those populations have access to service comparable to that enjoyed by Canadians in southern Canada.

[Dominique O'Rourke, Liberal, Guelph, ON]

Thank you very much.

I met this morning with the Association of Equipment Manufacturers. Its members make agricultural equipment, mining trucks, construction trucks, etc. A lot of that equipment will be wired, connected to the Internet, using AI. A lot of that equipment is going to be used in rural and remote areas, particularly in light of major projects, our focus on electrification, etc.

We heard a lot of examples at our last committee meeting about individual safety. We're hearing about individuals being able to study. However, I thought it was helpful to point out that the equipment on which so many of us rely for construction, food security, etc., is also vulnerable in terms of access to the spectrum.

Should the geographic coverage be reported separately from the population coverage? Should other considerations take place beyond the business case? There is a chicken-and-egg situation happening here. We need to build in the Ring of Fire; we need to be building in rural and remote areas. How does that change the urgency of this question?

[Sheehan Carter]

We are absolutely collecting information in both of those areas: areas where people live right now, as well as outside of those areas, primarily along.... We think in terms of road segments or portions of roads where you have or will have access to service.

From our point of view, it's absolutely essential that Canadians have full access to cellphone mobile services wherever they work and wherever they live. The first step in that is, by necessity, having good information about exactly where those services are right now, so that we can continue to put on pressure to make sure those gaps are filled in the future.

[Dominique O'Rourke, Liberal, Guelph, ON]

Thank you.

[The Chair, Liberal, Ben Carr]

Thank you, Ms. O'Rourke.

Go ahead, Mr. Groleau.

[Jason Groleau, Conservative, Beauce, QC]

Thank you, Mr. Chair.

I will split my time with Mr. Gill.

Welcome to our witnesses, Ms. Wright, Mr. Carter and Ms. Frenette.

The CRTC is telling us that 99.4% of Canadians have access to reliable network connectivity. Figures are well and good, but that's not the reality on the ground. Cellphone service in Beauce, my riding, is horrible. I'll be polite: there is zero coverage. It just doesn't work. Half of the 40 municipalities in the riding have broken connectivity. It's even worse between towns, where half the roads have no connectivity at all. When I go fishing 100 miles north of Fermont, I use an American product and I have access to excellent, reliable network connectivity.

It's 2026, so why hasn't the problem been fixed yet? Who is responsible?

Please tell me: What are you going to do to fix the problem?

[Leila Wright]

It's a major initiative, and a lot of people are working on the issue to make things better.

Currently, there are gaps. The way it works, unfortunately, is that the closer we get to 100%, the harder it becomes to get to 100%. The last 10% is harder than the first 90%.

There are a lot of different initiatives taking place. At the federal level, the CRTC has the broadband fund, which is used to help build out connectivity across the country where there are gaps. ISED also had a universal broadband fund, which has upwards of $3 billion associated with it. There are also initiatives at all levels of government working on this, because they know how important it is to get connectivity to all Canadians.

[Jason Groleau, Conservative, Beauce, QC]

I saw the news release you put out on Friday, October 2. You're taking action to obtain clearer information on cellphone coverage. That's good news. It's a funny coincidence, I'll call it, since the information came out right before your appearance before the committee.

Why did it take so long to get things moving?

[Sheehan Carter]

As I said, the first step is measurements. What has to do with the measurements is done. That's precisely the case here.

Our objective right now is to ensure that there is consistency in that measurement, there is clarity, and this information is conveyed to Canadians so that Canadians can make choices about their own services and be assured that they can receive services in certain areas.

[Jason Groleau, Conservative, Beauce, QC]

Thank you.

[The Chair, Liberal, Ben Carr]

Mr. Gill is next.

[Harb Gill, Conservative, Windsor West, ON]

Thank you, Chair.

Folks, your news release of October 2 says that “Canadians will...be able to report locations where coverage maps do not reflect their experience”. It says that the feedback “will help improve the accuracy of information over time”. That, to some extent, is passing the buck to the customer or the victim who is not getting the service, in my opinion. People's lives are busy, and we are asking them to come and report to us. They're frustrated to begin with. Why are we asking them to do the CRTC's job?

Let's take a real example. A Canadian reports a dead zone. The CRTC investigates and confirms that, yes, the coverage map says there's service, but there isn't. Who is responsible for fixing that problem, what is the deadline for fixing it, and what happens to the carrier when they don't fix it?

Here's what I'm asking. You have the data now, but who is responsible for fixing the confirmed gap, and what are the consequences that the CRTC is going to impose on or recommend to that carrier?

[Sheehan Carter]

Our role here in the first instance is to collect the data and use it to determine where there are difficulties or problems. Quite frankly, when we see those problems or difficulties, the next step is going to be to work directly with the carriers themselves and to try to understand what the source of the problem is. Is it a problem of validation? Is it a problem of measurement?

Beyond this, we'll continue to work with the carriers to ensure they are looking at those gaps and taking the steps necessary to make sure Canadians have services in these areas.

[Harb Gill, Conservative, Windsor West, ON]

Again, the point is, who is going to impose consequences on these people? Have you done that with any carrier so far? Have you revoked their licence or taken away their spectrum?

[Leila Wright]

We're not able to do that as the CRTC, because we don't oversee spectrum. However, this committee, in its last meeting, spoke a lot about incentives and how we can create incentives. That's the area where the CRTC is focused. It's how we can create incentives for carriers to build, both where there is a business case and where there isn't a business case.

[Harb Gill, Conservative, Windsor West, ON]

Would you recommend any negative incentives to ISED, which does control? Would you be able to recommend that to them by saying, “This carrier is not doing what it's supposed to do”?

This is what Canadians are facing. There have to be some consequences. I agree about the positive incentive, for sure, but there should be negative incentives as well.