People fed up with hidden cellphone fees, confusing contracts or huge data charges can vent their frustration to the B.C. government, which is launching a public survey on the issue.
The NDP government promised to improve transparency and fairness in cellphone billing in the February throne speech.
But first, the government is launching a public consultation where British Columbians can share their experiences with cellphone contracts and surprise fees.
The survey launched Wednesday and runs until July 5. The results will be released in a public report.
“The results will help identify ways to both strengthen B.C. consumer protections as well as encourage the federal government to improve affordability,” Public Safety Minister Mike Farnworth said Wednesday in announcing the survey.
Bob D’Eith, NDP MLA for Maple Ridge-Mission, said he will be speaking to stakeholder groups and the telecom industry about their concerns.
The B.C. Liberals criticized the government for launching the study, saying British Columbians want action to make life more affordable.
Jas Johal, B.C. Liberal co-critic for jobs, tourism and technology, called the survey “useless.” “They’ve said the survey will help give them insight into what actions the province can take, which tells me they simply don’t know what they’re doing,” he said in a statement.
Greg Kyllo, Liberal MLA for Shuswap and a critic on the same file, accused the government of stalling.
“Affordability was a key promise made by John Horgan and the NDP, and all they’ve shown they know how to do is order study after study,” he said.
The government took a similar approach with rules around ticket scalpers, Farnworth said, with a public survey preceding legislation introduced in April that aims to ban scalper bots, automated ticket-purchasing software used by scalpers.
Farnworth acknowledged that the federal government is responsible for making rules about cellphone fees under the Wireless Code and the Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission.
However, Farnworth said if B.C. follows the lead of Manitoba, Newfoundland and Quebec in passing tougher consumer-protection rules for wireless providers, it could push the federal government to take action in the area as well.
• The public can complete the survey at https://engage.gov.bc.ca/cellphonebilling.
