Loving the action the Canadian government is taking – well some of them!
Earlier in June MP David McGuinty put Bill C-555 “Get Connected Fairly Act” forward to ensure that all Canadians know exactly what they are getting into when they subscribe to a mobile phone contract. Now, NDP leader Jack Layton has stepped up and voiced his thoughts about the recent news that Bell and TELUS are both charging for incoming text messages. Bell increases take effect August 8th and Telus starting August 24th.. combined are estimated to generated over $150 million in revenues.
Layton announced today that the NDP has launched an online petition that will ask cell phone providers to “act in the interest of consumers and cancel the text message cash-grab”.
Layton said: “Cell phone companies are now charging for spam, consumer confidence sinks lower every quarter and the central bank’s quarterly business outlook suggests 42% of businesses in Canada will increase the cost of their goods and services. The average CEO in Canada makes more on New Year’s Day than the average Canadian employee makes in a year. It’s no wonder a record number of corporations want to jack up prices – the people ordering the price increases can afford them. Middle-class and working families are the ones who will be hit the hardest by these extra fees.”
Here is the online petition.
