Starting July 31, Public Mobile customers in select provinces and territories will see a new monthly fee added to their bill. The charge is a government-mandated 911 tax meant to support emergency services in areas where it’s required by law.
Customers in Alberta, New Brunswick, Newfoundland and Labrador, Nova Scotia, Northwest Territories, Prince Edward Island, Quebec, and Saskatchewan will be affected. The fee varies by region, according to Public Mobile today:
Customers in Ontario, British Columbia, and Manitoba will not be charged the 911 tax, as those provinces do not require it.
If you pay using a voucher, Public Mobile says you’ll need to add the tax amount to your usual top-up to avoid any service issues. For example, a $30 plan in Quebec would now require at least $30.54 in credit. The 911 tax goes directly to provincial agencies and is not kept by Public Mobile.
Telus-owned Public Mobile also supports Enhanced 911 (E911) and text-to-911 services in most regions, except Newfoundland, where only basic 911 is available due to landline limitations.
Earlier this week Public Mobile trimmed its wireless plans and more changes are coming next week.
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I thought it was basic needs