Canada plans legislation to end pay-to-pay billing fees

The federal government plans to introduce legislation that would halt the practice of charging fees for paper bills, an issue highlighted by the CRTC's criticism of Canadian telecom companies' pay-to-pay practices.

Industry Minister James Moore said Friday thatthe government legislation will put an end to what he calls theunfairpay-to-pay fees.

Moore said Canadians expect lower prices and better service from telecomservice providers.The government has twice promised to end pay-to-pay policies:In its October 2013 throne speechandin the 2014 budget.

Moore'sannouncement came a day after afterexecutives from nearly a dozen majortelecomcompanies including Bell, Rogers andTelus met with the Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications CommissioninGatineau, Que.

The companies vowed to exempt some customers from pay-to-pay fees:

• Seniors.
• Individuals with disabilities.
• Military veterans.
• Customers with no internet connections.

In a statement released after the meeting, regulators saidthe exemptions don't go far enough.

CRTC chair Jean-Pierre Blaissaid "many Canadians who will not benefit from the exemptions will be disappointed with the outcome so far."

Blais also praised the four companies CogecoCable,MTSAllstream,SaskTeland Shaw Communications thathave optednot to charge for paper fees, saying "Canadians should keep this in mind when they select service providers."

According to a studyreleased this week by the Public Interest Advocacy Centre,Canadians payover $500 million a yearin paper billing fees.

The advocacy group says low-income Canadians and seniors shoulder the heaviest burden, as they are less likely to have access to the internet. An estimated 15 per cent of Canadians do not have internet access at home.