It’s Your CRTC: Here’s How To Have Your Say!
Your 5-minute guide to understanding and participating in our activities
What we do
To build and maintain the kind of communication system you need requires the efforts of a lot of people.
We work closely with citizens, broadcasters, service providers, small businesses, and others. We perform a wide range of activities related to enhancing broadcasting and telecommunications in Canada.
Helping Canadians communicate
We know how important broadcasting and telecommunications services are to you. You depend on communication for work, study, and play.
Communications services make up a considerable portion of your monthly budget. So you expect to access a communication system that delivers what you need reliably and cost effectively.
To keep pace with Canadians’ evolving needs and interests, the CRTC periodically reviews the minimum level of service you should expect to receive, such as access to quality high-speed Internet services.
Serving the public interest
Communications technology is playing an increasing role in all of our lives. We are committed to ensuring that you have access to a world-class communication system that provides:
- compelling and diverse content;
- quality and affordable service options; and
- a safe environment for your commercial and personal activities.
Encouraging respect for legislation
A big part of our job is to make sure that communications laws designed to protect the public interest are respected.
This involves encouraging and monitoring adherence to the Broadcasting Act, the Telecommunications Act, Canada’s Anti-Spam Legislation (CASL), and the National Do Not Call List (DNCL).
Our other activities
- Licensing. We issue, renew, and amend broadcasting licences throughout Canada.
- Making ownership decisions. We help make sure that mergers, acquisitions, and ownership changes in the broadcasting industry take your interests into account.
- Ensuring affordable choices. We take steps to make sure that there is enough competition in telecommunications markets to provide you with affordable choices.
- Responding to requests and complaints. We respond to your requests for information, take action based on your comments and complaints, and consider your concerns and opinions when making policy decisions. Sometimes that means directing you to our partner organizations that represent us on issues you may be interested in:
- For billing disputes or issues related to the quality of your telecom services – The Commission for Complaints for Telecom-television Services (CCTS).
- For issues concerning the content of radio and television programs – The Canadian Broadcast Standards Council (CBSC).
- For concerns regarding telemarketing calls – The National Do Not Call List (DNCL).
Have your say!
When it comes to shaping Canada’s broadcasting and telecommunications system, we depend on you to tell us what you want and need, and to let us know what is and isn’t working for you.
We encourage you to have your say. We invite you to join us in continuing to build a world-class communication system that meets your needs.
Why your participation matters
Our activities have a direct effect on you.
The policies and regulations that we help create, the decisions we make, and the actions we take contribute to how well your communication system works for you.
That is why it is to your benefit to be aware of what we are doing and why. It is also to your benefit to play a role in determining the policies and regulations we develop and the actions we take. And that means making your voice heard and your opinions known to us.
We listen … and we act
Listening to you is critical for us. You point us in the right direction, and where we can, we address your concerns head on. For example:
| When you told us this … | We did this … |
|---|---|
| Cell phone contracts were confusing and roaming charges onerous. | We held consultations that led to the development of a Wireless Code that simplifies cell phone contracts, lets you know your rights, and puts new requirements on service providers. |
| You were receiving unwanted calls from telemarketers. | We developed the unsolicited telecommunications rules to reduce the number of unwanted calls you receive. |
| Loud TV commercials were annoying. | We made it mandatory to broadcast commercials at the same volume as regular programming. |
| Telecommunications services in the North were not comparable to those available in the rest of Canada. | We made sure that a modernization plan for telecommunications services in the North is in place and is focused on infrastructure investments. |
| Canadians who are Deaf, hard of hearing or speech impaired had trouble communicating using TTY relay and IP relay. | We took steps to make video relay services mandatory across Canada, so that people who use sign language can communicate more effectively with voice telephone users. |
Here’s how to take part
To learn about the full range of ways you can contact us and participate in our activities, visit our website.
In the meantime, here are some of the many ways you can reach us:
Contact us online
You’ll find a step-by-step online form for your questions and complaints
Write us a letter
Our address is CRTC, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada K1A 0N2
Give us a call
Call us toll free at 1-877-249-CRTC (2782)
On a toll-free TTY line at 1-877-909-CRTC (2782)
Send us a fax
Our fax number is 819-994-0218
Participate in a public proceeding
We regularly conduct public proceedings, so that you can share your views on important issues in person, by videoconference, online, or in writing. To learn about upcoming proceedings and how you can participate, go to our website’s home page
Join an online consultation
You can share your views by joining one of our online consultations that help us gather information on issues that directly impact you. Consult our website’s home page for upcoming consultations
Follow us on Twitter
Take part in a daily conversation on communications issues that matter to Canadians: @CRTCeng
Like us on Facebook
Find and share useful info on your communication services and products: CRTC - Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission
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What is the CRTC?
The Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission (CRTC) was created by the Parliament of Canada to regulate and supervise broadcasting and telecommunications in Canada.
This includes the radio, television, cell phone, and Internet services that you and other Canadians rely on every day.
With headquarters in the National Capital Region, the CRTC reports to Parliament through the Minister of Canadian Heritage.
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