Starting today, Canadians can switch wireless and internet providers without getting hit with activation or switching fees.
The CRTC’s ban on connection and modification fees officially takes effect today, Friday, June 12, putting an end to the $80 connection fees that Rogers, Telus, Bell and their flanker brands have been charging when activating with a human. The changes apply to both the Wireless Code and Internet Code and are specifically aimed at junk fees that made it harder and more expensive for people to switch providers or change their plans.
CRTC Chairperson and CEO Vicky Eatrides summed it up plainly back in March, noting the “decision removes extra fees to activate, change, or cancel a plan.” She added at the time, “this means that consumers can switch to a better deal without having to pay extra just to get the service that works best for them.”
There are a few exceptions worth knowing about. Carriers can still charge fees for physical labour like a technician visit for a home fibre installation, and fees for optional products the customer actively chooses are still allowed. The ban also doesn’t apply when a subscriber is paying off a subsidized device.
That said, some carriers are already finding workarounds it seems. Telus has introduced a mandatory $15 SIM fee for new connections (also applies to eSIM), and Bell is now charging a $40 device fee when customers buy a new phone.
Today’s change is just the first step in a broader overhaul. The CRTC says it plans to consolidate multiple industry codes into a single framework over the coming months to make consumer protections simpler and switching even easier.
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so they just make up fee’s then crtc bans them in an endless loop?
Can’t believe how long this took. In what other industry does a company impose fees that make it more difficult for new customers to join them? Yes, one could look at the fees as a blind cash grab, which they were, but clearly, if there was anything close to competition in the industry, they would also look to reduce or eliminate them in order to make it easier for customers to switch to them. Literally, imposing such fees seems to be to prevent customers from switch, which can only be due to “competitors” protecting each other and working together to prevent churn.
The CRTC are the big 3. The fox is running the henhouse
What about digital subscriptions like cable, satellite and music services?
https://vancouver.citynews.ca/2026/06/12/crtc-aims-to-combine-consumer-protection-codes-for-internet-phone-and-tv-services/
The fact they already have new charges and work arounds mean this whole idea is toothless. This is why I save up and buy my phone out right.
Outright is one word
You can’t buy out phones in Canada anymore that is not an option with any cell phone Carrier anymore
Yes you can and what Ray is saying is he buys the phone for $xxxx and then brings it to his provider
Yes you can. Motorola, for example, you can purchase one right
from their website.
It is an option. It’s call a BYOD plan, bring your own device. Just buy a phone and connect it. Put the SIM card in yourself.
There’s no need to buy a phone open from a carrier. I bought my phone from Best Buy “open box” and it was perfect and I saved huge dollars, signed up with Fizz mobile and had them send me a sim card which worked in seconds.
I got mine outright from Samsung. No 2 year contract, just plugged in my sim
They’ll try and rob you any way they can!
Next step…ban auto renewals on all Internet services
I was charged $80 fee today just for moving my phone plan to a family plan. So only certain things are charged free. There’s always some catch. I even show the staff some of the articles and when they were on call with colleague to confirm I was like oh but this article explain more then others article so thank you. And yes I did pay the $80 fee ( transfer fee to family plan )
complain to the CRTC with the invoice….you will get your money back and the carrier will be fined
That is just another distruction. Rogers, Telus and Bell cartel is sabotaging entry of foreign providers into Canada. This has been going on for decades. All we see is some corrupt bureaucrat making it look like they are fighting for Canadians. Horseshit. These pigs are corrupt top to bottom, left to right.
Really appreciate the decision, it was something that should have been done long while a ago. A thumbs up 👍 to the wise decision board.
I switched to Fizz Mobile. Cheaper prices and after 1 year of use, I am really happy with it. Why anyone would go to Bell, Rogers or Telus is beyond me. I guess skyrocket prices, getting ripped off and horrible unintelligible customer service is not a concern to them. With Fizz, everything is done online. No more immigrants who don’t speak English while you are waiting on hold forever and getting bogus answers you can’t understand. Plus Fizz gives you rewards quite often. 40 gigs for free here, 40 gigs for free there and all the gigs roll over to the next month. They don’t disappear like the scam artists do. As long as the crooked CRTC run by Bell and Rogers and Telus. We will never have true freedom for Canadians but for right now this is as close as it comes.
We need to ban the CRTC. They do far more harm than good. This little thing is not worth the trouble of their authoritarian restrictions.
Does the ban apply to activating cellular with an Apple Watch?
I looked at a new phone on Rogers…How is this making it easier?
You must stay on the same plan throughout the financing term to keep your promo credits. Downgrading your plan will remove them.
A $25 shipping fee applies with standard delivery
Shop Mobile online and enjoy no Shipping Fees ($25) on select devices with in-store pickup.
I joined Telus In May and was charged the 80 connection fee. Does anyone know if they if they will give you any of that money back?