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Telecom Notice of Consultation CRTC 2022-147-4

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References: 2022-147, 2022-147-1, 2022-147-2 and 2022-147-3

Ottawa, 24 November 2023

Public records: 8622-S93-202008482, 1011-NOC2020-0367 and 1011-NOC2022-0147

Call for comments – Telecommunications in the Far North, Phase II – Changes to procedure

Revised deadline for the filing of new submissions: 22 December 2023

Revised deadline for the filing of final replies: 22 January 2024

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  1. The Commission issued Call for comments – Telecommunications in the Far North, Phase II, Telecom Notice of Consultation CRTC 2022-147, 8 June 2022, as amended by Telecom Notices of Consultation CRTC 2022-147-1, 14 July 2022; 2022-147-2, 24 October 2022; and 2022-147-3, 13 October 2023, in which it initiated a proceeding to call for comments on telecommunications services in the Far North. The deadline to file final submissions with the Commission on any matter within the scope of the proceeding was 9 June 2023.
  2. On 24 May 2023, the Commission suspended the deadline to file final submissions in this proceeding.Footnote 1 It did so with the intention of taking additional steps to engage with a diversity of voices and perspectives on the issues raised in this proceeding, while recognizing the importance of a timely decision.
  3. On 13 October 2023, the Commission established further process to close the record of this proceeding by revising the deadline for the filing of final submissions and adding a period for final replies. Furthermore, in regard to the need for a fulsome and diverse record, it invited interested persons to make new submissions on matters within the scope of this proceeding that provide Nunavut or Inuit Nunangat perspectives.
  4. In a letter dated 16 November 2023, the Government of Nunavut requested that the deadline for filing of new submissions be changed from 29 November 2023Footnote 2 to 22 December 2023 to allow it to engage further with its communities.
  5. Several partiesFootnote 3 filed comments in support of the Government of Nunavut’s request.
  6. In its letter, the Public Interest Advocacy Centre (PIAC) noted that, in order to satisfy the requirements of natural justice, parties should be permitted to review the views of Nunavut residents prior to finalizing their final submissions. As such, it proposed to revise the date of final submissions to 19 January 2024 and the date of final replies to 2 February 2024. Northwestel Inc. (Northwestel), TELUS Communications Inc. (TELUS) and SSi Micro Ltd. (SSi) similarly requested that the deadlines for final submissions and final replies for all parties be extended until after the new deadline for submissions that provide Nunavut or Inuit Nunagat perspectives.
  7. While Iristel Inc. (Iristel) did not object the Government of Nunavut’s request, it requested that Wholesale Connect be addressed urgently and that deadlines not be extended with respect to matters that deal with Wholesale Connect.   
  8. The Commission considers that extending the deadline for new submissions would contribute to meaningful participation and help ensure that the Commission has a fulsome and diverse record on which to base its decision. The Commission welcomes the active involvement of the Government of Nunavut in this process and acknowledges the importance of allowing it the time necessary to engage with its communities.
  9. In regard to the requests to change the deadline for the filing of final submissions, the Commission is of the view that the period of final reply provides an opportunity to parties to respond to new submissions providing Nunavut and Inuit Nunangat perspectives and final submissions. Therefore, the Commission considers it is not necessary to delay the deadline for the filing of final submissions to respect procedural fairness requirements. In addition, not extending the timeline for final submissions in this proceeding will ensure that the issues in this proceeding, including those related to Wholesale Connect, are disposed of in a timely manner.
  10. Accordingly, the Commission hereby revises the deadline for the filing of new submissions by interested persons on matters within the scope of this proceeding that provide Nunavut or Inuit Nunangat perspectives to 22 December 2023 and the deadline for the filing of final replies to 22 January 2024. The Commission notes that the deadline for the filing of final submissions for those who are already parties to the proceeding remains 29 November 2023.

Secretary General

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