Telecom - Staff Letter addressed to Stephen Schmidt (Telus Communications Inc.)
Gatineau, 12 June 2026
Reference: 1011-NOC2024-0294
BY EMAIL
Stephen Schmidt
Vice-President – Telecom Policy & Chief Regulatory Legal Counsel
Telus Communications Inc.
Regulatory.affairs@telus.com
Subject: Request for information – TELUS’ new SIM purchase fee
Dear Stephen Schmidt,
As you are aware, Telecom Regulatory Policy CRTC 2026-43, Prohibition of fees that are a barrier to switching cellphone and Internet plans, comes into effect today, 12 June 2026. It set out the type of activation, modification, and cancellation fees that are prohibited by s. 27.04 of the Telecommunications Act (the Act).
Following the announcement of TELUS’ new SIM purchase fee, Scott Hutton, Vice-President, Consumer, Analytics and Strategy, sent you a letter on 9 June 2026, informing you that it would not appear that the SIM purchase fee falls under the exemption considered by the Commission for optional services and products in the above-noted policy.
I’m requesting that you confirm whether TELUS has ceased its new practice of charging its customers a SIM purchase fee. If TELUS has not ceased this practice, explain why and provide supporting rationale as to why TELUS considers this practice to be in compliance with the exemption for optional services and products set out in the above-noted policy, or in compliance with the policy more generally. This information must be submitted to the Commission by no later than 17 June 2026.
As noted in Mr. Hutton’s letter, he had hoped that this situation could be resolved before the Commission takes more formal regulatory action now that the prohibition has come into effect. Commission staff will consider all available compliance options to ensure that fees that are a barrier to switching cellphone and Internet plans are prohibited as intended by the Act.
Sincerely,
Original signed by
Nanao Kachi
Director, Social and Consumer Policy, CRTC
- Date modified: