Share your ideas and comments about telecommunications services in the Far North
Current status: Open
Start date: October 24, 2022
End date: December 12, 2022
This consultation is re-opened to include three communities in Northwestel’s operating territory and in the Far North:
- Atlin, British Columbia;
- Fort St. John, British Columbia; and
- High Level, Alberta.
We want to hear from you on what actions we should take to improve telecommunications services in the three communities.
How to participate
There are a few ways you can participate. Please note that we will make comments public. The deadline to participate is December 12, 2022 at 8 p.m. (EST).
Submit a formal comment online
Submit a formal comment by using our intervention form. You’ll have to agree to our privacy statement first.
Send your comment by mail
Submit a formal comment by sending a letter with your ideas and opinions to the mailing address below.
Send your comment by fax
Submit a formal comment to the fax number below.
Attend the public hearing
A hearing is a meeting where people can voice their opinions on the topics announced in a notice of consultation.
We will hold an in-person hearing starting on 17 April 2023 at the Kwanlin Dün Cultural Centre, 1171 Front Street, Whitehorse, Yukon. It will also be possible to participate remotely. In person locations may change based on public health measures.
If you wish to speak at the public hearing, you must file a formal comment by using our intervention form, by fax, or by mail.
Who is the focus of this consultation
We are looking to hear from anyone living and working in the following communities:
- Atlin, British Columbia;
- Fort St. John, British Columbia; and
- High Level, Alberta.
Key topics for discussion
We want to hear from you about what solutions would best meet the needs of these three communities in the Far North.
What actions should we take to make Internet and home phone services:
- more affordable?
- more reliable?
- more competitive?
- better support reconciliation with Indigenous Peoples?
Learn more about the topics for discussion set out in the Notice of Consultation and in the Call for comments about these three communities.
A summary with key information is also available in the following languages:
- English summary in NoC
- French summary in NoC
- Cree (HTML/PDF, 90.9 KB)
- Chipewyan (PDF, 223 KB)
- Inuktitut (HTML/PDF, 170 KB)
- Inuinnaqtun (HTML/PDF, 89.5 KB)
Disclaimer
Due to technical limitations, the Chipewyan version of the summary is only available as a PDF document. If you would like more information or request a copy of the summary in an alternative format, please contact us at nord-north@crtc.gc.ca.
What we learned
- Interventions (comments we are receiving online, by mail and by fax)
What happened in phase 1
Phase 1 of the consultation about telecommunications services in the Far North was open between November 2, 2020 and January 20, 2021.
- Interventions from phase 1 (comments we received online, by mail, and by fax)
- Northern telecommunications services public opinion research report
Ideas shared
Everyone living in Canada should have affordable access to phone and Internet services.
All Canadians should have affordable access to telecommunications services, especially access to the Internet. Most plans available in the Far North offer low value for money, especially Internet access, compared to the south.
Services should be reliable and allow for the same online activities as those available in the South.
The quality and reliability of services should improve so that people in the Far North can do the same activities (such as videoconferencing) as people in the south. Improving quality and reliability will ensure that people in the Far North are not excluded from social or economic opportunities.
People in the Far North want more competition with respect to their Internet services.
The circumstances in the Far North make it challenging to support competition that will improve the affordability, reliability and quality of services.
High quality and affordable access to phone and Internet services is important for reconciliation between Indigenous Peoples and non-Indigenous Canadians.
The solutions that we examine to better meet the needs of people in the Far North should be considered in the context of reconciliation with Indigenous Peoples.
Read more about the issues covered in the Phase 1 Call for comments about the state of telecommunications services in Canada’s North.
Related information
- Broadband Fund – Closing the digital divide in Canada
- CRTC Broadband Fund selected projects
- Telecom Regulatory Policy CRTC 2018-213 - Phase-out of the local service subsidy regime
- Telecom Regulatory Policy CRTC 2013-711 - Northwestel Inc. – Regulatory Framework, Modernization Plan, and related matters
Contact us
Secretary General
CRTC
Ottawa, Ontario, K1A 0N2
Fax
Telephone
819-997-0313
Toll-free 1-877-249-CRTC (2782)
TTY 819-994-0423
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