Telecom - Staff Letter addressed to the Distribution List
Gatineau, 7 July 2026
ABRIDGED
Reference: 8622-V3-202603068
BY EMAIL
Distribution List
Subject: Quebecor Media inc. (on behalf of Videotron Ltd.) Part 1 Application - Preliminary Procedural Direction and Extension of Time
Commission staff are responding in this letter to the procedural request filed by Saskatchewan Telecommunications (SaskTel) on 24 June 2026 with regard to the above-mentioned proceeding, and the subsequent letters filed by SaskTel and Quebecor Media inc., on behalf of Videotron Ltd. (Videotron) since.
Procedural background
On 11 June 2026, Videotron filed a Part 1 Application alleging undue preference by SaskTel with respect to its wholesale roaming service.
On 24 June 2026, SaskTel filed a procedural request asking the Commission to, among other things, suspend or extend the deadline for SaskTel to file an intervention until 30 days after the Commission provides preliminary direction on how to treat certain confidential information related to ## that it submits was put forward in the application.
On 26 June 2026, Videotron filed a letter ##.
On 29 June 2026, SaskTel responded to Videotron, ##.
##.
Request for preliminary direction as to the treatment of certain confidential information
At paragraph 16 of its 24 June 2026 procedural request, SaskTel asked the Commission to issue a preliminary direction addressing the following issues:
- Whether Videotron can rely on certain information filed in confidence.
- Whether portions of Videotron’s submissions referencing that confidential information should be struck, disregarded, or refiled if the Commission determines that it cannot be properly considered.
- Whether SaskTel is directed to file limited responsive evidence in confidence and without waiver, including several items listed in confidence related to the ##, subject to the Commission’s preliminary confidentiality directions, as is necessary to respond to the specific and general allegations Videotron has asserted.
- Whether Videotron should be required to identify, with specificity, the source of certain information.
Having reviewed the procedural letters exchanged by the parties, Commission staff notes that the parties disagree as to whether certain information, if any, contained in Videotron’s application or in SaskTel’s submissions may be subject to the confidentiality requirements of ##. The parties’ letters do not contain sufficient information to ascertain whether details from the application were confidential under ##, nor whether any information SaskTel proposes to share should be the subject of a broad disclosure order.
Commission staff notes that, without having seen the information either party believes to be subject to ##, the request for directions remains vague and difficult to assess, even on a preliminary basis.
As such, in order to ensure the file progresses in an efficient and orderly manner, Commission staff proposes that the parties file their substantive submissions on this proceeding, in accordance with the CRTC Rules of Practice and Procedure and the timelines established in this letter. Parties may designate certain information as confidential, as appropriate in the circumstances and as set out in section 39 of the Telecommunications Act and in Procedures for filing confidential information and requesting its disclosure in Commission proceedings, Broadcasting and Telecom Information Bulletin CRTC 2010-961, 23 December 2010.
If there is any specific information that may be subject to confidentiality rules of any kind, the parties are asked to identify the basis for the confidentiality designation, any concerns about applicable confidentiality and disclosure rules, and any arguments as to the relevance and admissibility of the information. The Commission may issue any directions it deems appropriate.
Intervention deadline extension granted
Regarding SaskTel’s confidential 29 June 2026 letter, ##.
Given the novel issues raised in these procedural requests, staff also considers that it would be appropriate to grant an extension to all interested persons to account for the time taken to address them. Accordingly, the deadline to submit an intervention in this proceeding is extended to 22 July 2026, and the deadline for reply is extended until 3 August 2026.
All documents must be received, and not merely sent, by the dates indicated, and can be filed on the Commission’s website using GCKey.
Yours sincerely,
Original signed by Jeremy Lendvay on behalf of
Philippe Kent
Director, Telecommunications Services Policy
c.c.:
Jeremy Lendvay, CRTC, Jeremy.Lendvay@crtc.gc.ca
Allison McLean, CRTC, Allison.Mclean@crtc.gc.ca
Mason Rodney, CRTC, Mason.Rodney@crtc.gc.ca
Distribution List
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