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PIAC: Pollara Survey Shows Phone Company Deregulation Plans Unpopular with Canadians

Results of a Pollara survey released today by the Public Interest Advocacy Centre (PIAC) shows Canada's big telephone companies have a long way to go in convincing Canadians that they should be able to set their own prices for local service.

PIAC commissioned the study to assist in its representation of consumers before the Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission (CRTC) in proceedings now underway to determine how local phone service should be regulated.

Michael Janigan, Executive Director and General Counsel with the Public Interest Advocacy Centre, stated: "The big telephone companies, like Bell and Telus have lately been extremely aggressive in lobbying the government to do away with consumer protection for local telephone service. The telephone companies say because there is already enough competition consumers don't need the CRTC to protect them. Most Canadians do not agree".

The CRTC has also been under pressure from the new federal government to deregulate faster. The survey found that over 70 per cent of Canadians reject the idea that telephone companies should set their prices without CRTC approval. "A majority even disagreed with the idea that the cable company can provide enough competition to allow deregulation, an idea currently accepted by the CRTC," Janigan noted.

The POLLARA survey was fielded from August 29, 2006 to September with 1206 Canadians interviewed. The results should be considered accurate within (plus or minus) 2.9 percentage points 19 times out of 20.

The executive summary of the survey is at: http:/www.piac.ca

For further information: Michael Janigan, Executive Director and General Counsel, Public Interest Advocacy Centre, (613) 562-4002 x26; John Lawford, Counsel, PIAC, (613) 562-4002 x25; Ric Hobbs, Associate Vice President, POLLARA, (613) 237-4117

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