Mr. Speaker, there is another area in which Canadians are being sidelined for profit. That is telephone service.
Since 1992 some local phone rates have increased by over 100%. Thousands of homes are without phones because the rates have gone through the roof. Now phone companies have gone to the CRTC wanting more increases so their shareholders will have higher dividends.
My question is for the Minister of Industry. How will the ministry make basic telephone services affordable for all Canadians?