The Consumers’ Association of Canada Applauds Ottawa for Supporting Verizon

Screen Shot 2013 08 13 at 10 40 08 AM

The non-profit Consumers’ Association of Canada has announced it is pleased with the Harper Government’s decision to support the entry of Verizon Wireless into Canada to foster wireless competition.

“Consumers are telling us they welcome the new choices Verizon’s entry will bring.” said President Bruce Cran.  “We are hearing also that Consumers are offended by the extravagance of the major telecom’s massive advertising program attacking the Harper Government’s decision.” he added.

The Associations further notes the addition of Verizon will improve competition and bring choice to an industry that has been “stagnant” due to the dominance of Rogers, TELUS and Bell. The group also calls on citizens to contact their local MP to give your voice of support for Verizon.

Canadians appear to similarly support the arrival of Verizon, according to The Windsor Star, as Laura Sheets and her friend Kim Tissot share tales of their own wireless bills:

“I’d go to Verizon,” said Tissot, a Windsor dental assistant who grudgingly pays $80 a month for her plan from Bell and is envious of relatives in the U.S. who pay less for similar plans with Verizon…

[…]

“They get you any way they can and how do you fight that?” Tissot asked Monday. “If you want a phone, you’ve got to pay.”

Recently, wireless incumbents have launched an ongoing PR campaign in the media (some Canadians have responded) to voice opposition over the entry of Verizon in Canada, which will supposedly put local jobs at risk, despite the Big 3 having previously outsourced domestic jobs overseas. TELUS has a 3,000 strong call centre in the Philippines, a venture by its arm TELUS International. Similar outsourcing by Rogers has IBM providing IT services and Bell outsourcing jobs to India.

P.S. - Like our news? Support the site with a coffee/beer. Or shop with our Amazon link. We use affiliate links when possible--thank you for supporting independent media.