Public Mobile warns some customers of incoming 9-1-1 tax

Public Mobile is texting some customers, warning them of incoming taxes for 9-1-1 services.

According to posts from Public Mobile customers on Reddit, the 9-1-1 tax will start on July 31, 2025, for those with Alberta and Saskatchewan area codes. Customers shared texts sent to them by Public, which said:

“The provincial government mandates a monthly tax to support local 9-1-1 emergency services. Starting July 31, 2025, you will see an Alberta provincial 9-1-1 tax of $0.95/month on your bill.”

or

“The provincial government mandates a monthly tax to support local 9-1-1 emergency services. Starting July 31, 2025, you will see a Saskatchewan provincial 9-1-1 tax of $2.14/month on your bill.”

However, according to Public’s website,  Ontario, B.C., and Manitoba don’t have 9-1-1 taxes. The Telus-owned wireless provider goes on to explain on its support page that the 9-1-1 tax is required by some provincial governments, and it supports 9-1-1 operations in those regions. Here’s a full list of the provinces and territories with 9-1-1 taxes:

• Alberta – $0.95/mo
• New Brunswick – $0.97/mo
• Newfoundland and Labrador – $0.75/mo
• Nova Scotia – $0.43/mo
• Northwest Territories – $3/mo
• Prince Edward Island – $0.70/mo
• Quebec (municipal tax) – $0.54/mo
• Saskatchewan – $2.14/mo

Notably, Alberta has had a 9-1-1 tax for years, so it’s not entirely clear why Public is now messaging customers about it. Alberta raised its 9-1-1 tax from $0.44 to the current $0.95 in September 2021.

Saskatchewan, similarly, had an existing 9-1-1 tax of $0.94. However, the provincial government raised the tax to $1.88/mo in April 2021 and indexed future increases to the Consumer Price Index for Saskatchewan. According to a notice on Bell’s website, Saskatchewan’s tax is set to increase from the current $2.14 to $2.17 starting August 1st, 2025. At the time of writing, Public’s support page didn’t mention the Saskatchewan increase, but presumably it will apply to customers in the province starting on August 1.

Not all Canadian wireless carriers take the same approach to 9-1-1 taxes and fees. Telus and Bell, along with their subsidiaries like Public, Koodo, Virgin Plus, and Lucky Mobile, simply charge the 9-1-1 tax to customers in provinces that have the tax.

Meanwhile, Rogers and its flanker brand Fido used to charge a $0.75/mo 9-1-1 Emergency Access Fee. Rogers’ 9-1-1 support page notes that customers with plans from before October 5, 2009, are charged the fee. The company says “9-1-1 Emergency Access Fee is NOT a government fee or a tax” and says it charges the fee “to provide customers with access to emergency services.” In October 2009, Rogers shifted to a Government Regulatory Recovery Fee, which applied to plans until July 2012. Rogers-owned Chatr doesn’t charge a 9-1-1 fee.