Sheehan Carter and Leila Wright to the Standing Committee on Industry and Technology

As you know, the CRTC is an independent, quasi-judicial tribunal that regulates the Canadian communications sector in the public interest. We hold public consultations on telecommunications and broadcasting matters and make decisions based on the public record.

Sheehan Carter, Director General, Strategic Policy, Consumer, Analytics and Strategy
Leila Wright, Vice-President, Telecommunications
Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission (CRTC)

Good morning and thank you for the opportunity to appear before your Committee.

Before we begin, I would like to acknowledge that we are gathered on the traditional, unceded territory of the Algonquin Anishinaabeg people.

I am joined today by my colleagues, Leila Wright, Vice-President of Telecommunications, and Rachelle Frenette, our General Counsel.

As you know, the CRTC is an independent, quasi-judicial tribunal that regulates the Canadian communications sector in the public interest. We hold public consultations on telecommunications and broadcasting matters and make decisions based on the public record.

We are pleased to assist your study of Bill C-268.

As the bill recognizes, the CRTC and ISED play a role in helping ensure that Canadians have access to high-quality cellphone services.

The CRTC’s role under the bill is to collect accurate data from service providers about their networks, including where services are available, and share this information with ISED.

Like Committee members, we have heard from Canadians about dead zones and dropped calls in places where maps say they should have full service: like in Pincher Creek, Alberta, in Chelsea, Nova Scotia, and in territorial capitals like Whitehorse. When Canadians have difficulty accessing reliable Internet and cellphone services, it can be a real threat to their lives and livelihoods.

So we understand the importance of these services, and we are listening to what Canadians are telling us.