Evidence of meeting #29 for Industry, Science and Technology in the 41st Parliament, 2nd Session. (The original version is on Parliament’s site, as are the minutes.) The winning word was crtc.
A recording is available from Parliament.
10:25 a.m.
Conservative
Joyce Bateman Conservative Winnipeg South Centre, MB
So you have absolutely no clue what the impact will be on the industry's bottom line that you serve. We are going to rely on Mr. Lawford's—
10:25 a.m.
Director, Regulatory Affairs, Canadian Wireless Telecommunications Association
I would caution you not to rely on that particular study. We've had a look at it and there seems to be a lot of issues in it.
10:25 a.m.
Conservative
Joyce Bateman Conservative Winnipeg South Centre, MB
But at least he did the math. So bravo, Mr. Lawford.
10:25 a.m.
Director, Regulatory Affairs, Canadian Wireless Telecommunications Association
They could have done a much better job, I would say.
10:25 a.m.
Conservative
10:25 a.m.
Director, Regulatory Affairs, Canadian Wireless Telecommunications Association
They included the 3.4 million wireless prepaid customers. Prepaid doesn't have bills. They included all of the subscribers to—
10:25 a.m.
Director, Regulatory Affairs, Canadian Wireless Telecommunications Association
They included all the subscribers to Shaw and Cogeco and all of EastLink's non-wireless subscribers, all of the SaskTel and MTS subscribers, and none of those companies charge for paper bills. This was the base they used.
10:25 a.m.
Conservative
Joyce Bateman Conservative Winnipeg South Centre, MB
Well, I look forward to getting your calculation. If you are willing to provide that to the committee, we would be most interested. I really think on behalf of the companies you serve we have to know the consequence of things, and this is actually going to happen. I know if I was one of your members, I would want to know.
I'm curious. We know that Canada has the highest rates in the world.
10:25 a.m.
Director, Regulatory Affairs, Canadian Wireless Telecommunications Association
I don't think that's true. I don't think the government's own study supports that.
10:25 a.m.
Director, Regulatory Affairs, Canadian Wireless Telecommunications Association
No.
10:25 a.m.
Conservative
Joyce Bateman Conservative Winnipeg South Centre, MB
I don't know if you have teenage children, but I do, and when they do comparisons with friends that they've made, say, in France or whatever, we're way above the market.
10:25 a.m.
Director, Regulatory Affairs, Canadian Wireless Telecommunications Association
That doesn't make us the highest in the world. Japan, traditionally has much higher wireless rates than us.
10:25 a.m.
Conservative
Joyce Bateman Conservative Winnipeg South Centre, MB
Does anybody else have higher rates than us, other than Japan?
10:25 a.m.
Director, Regulatory Affairs, Canadian Wireless Telecommunications Association
The United States does.
10:25 a.m.
Conservative
10:25 a.m.
Director, Regulatory Affairs, Canadian Wireless Telecommunications Association
Yes. According to the Wall Communications study, which is commissioned by Industry Canada and the CRTC, the rates in Canada are lower than the United States.
10:25 a.m.
Conservative
Joyce Bateman Conservative Winnipeg South Centre, MB
Thank you. We'll be following up on that.
Anyway, it is safe to say we are in the top five in the world. Are you comfortable with that?
10:25 a.m.
Director, Regulatory Affairs, Canadian Wireless Telecommunications Association
In terms of what you pay a month--
10:25 a.m.
Director, Regulatory Affairs, Canadian Wireless Telecommunications Association
--which is different from price.
10:25 a.m.
Conservative
10:25 a.m.
Director, Regulatory Affairs, Canadian Wireless Telecommunications Association
Because of what you are getting in return. On a unit basis, because Canadians use more data and they use more voice minutes and they use more text than, say, someone in France. So yes, you are paying more but you are using three times as much.