Public interest groups welcome Cabinet support for important CRTC decision

OTTAWA, May 11, 2016 – The Public Interest Advocacy Centre (PIAC) applauds the Federal Cabinet’s rejection today of Bell Canada’s petition to overturn the Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission’s (CRTC) 2015 decision to allow competitors to access Bell’s fibre-to-the-home network.
“This is the best outcome for Canadians who continue to face a lack of choice and high prices for internet service,” said John Lawford, Executive Director and General Counsel at PIAC. “Cabinet, in letting the CRTC’s decision stand, clearly understands that the CRTC’s decision promotes innovation and enables Canada’s digital economy.”
In their submission, PIAC, as part of the “Consumer Choice Coalition”, argued that the CRTC made the right decision and that Bell’s request to overturn it, if granted, would destroy internet competition and anger Canadians.

“The CRTC very clearly and responsibly consulted on the issues, and considered all of the evidence and views before it,” said Geoff White, Counsel to the coalition. “Cabinet standing behind the CRTC, instead of second-guessing it, is the right public policy, and the best consumer outcome.”
The other organizations in the Consumer Choice Coalition are:

the British Columbia Old Age Pensioners’ Organization;
the British Columbia Public Interest Advocacy Centre;
the Consumers’ Association of Canada;
the Council of Senior Citizens Organizations of British Columbia;
the Manitoba Public Interest Law Centre; and
the National Pensioners Federation.

For more information please contact:

John Lawford
Executive Director & General Counsel
Public Interest Advocacy Centre, PIAC
(613) 562-4002 ×25
lawford@piac.ca www.piac.ca

Geoff White
Counsel to the Consumer Choice Coalition
(613) 612-1190
geoff@geoffwhitelaw.ca

CRTC Saves Consumers Money with Simple Cancellation Rule

Consumers will save money when cancelling internet, cellphone, TV or telephone service thanks to rulings made by the Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission (CRTC) today.
The Consumers’ Association of Canada (CAC) and the Public Interest Advocacy Centre (PIAC) hailed the CRTC decisions that create a simple rule: consumers should never have to pay cancellation fees after terminating telecommunications or broadcasting services or switching providers.
“Your old service provider can’t add ‘cancellation charges’ after you cancel TV, internet, wireless or phone service – and they can’t confiscate your money if your service is billed a month ahead,” said John Lawford, Executive Director and General counsel of PIAC, who with CAC, opposed both of these practices in submissions to the CRTC.
“Your old company is only paid until the day you leave,” added Bruce Cran, President of the Consumers’ Association of Canada. “It’s a simple rule that makes sense for consumers and promotes competition.”
Consumers will still be responsible for any charges that they may incur during the part of the month when they still had service. However, customers that are charged their monthly fees in advance will receive a refund, pro-rated to the number of days of service they used.
For more information please contact:
John Lawford
General Counsel and Executive Director
Public Interest Advocacy Centre
(613) 562-4002×25
(613) 447-8125 (cell)
jlawford@piac.ca
www.piac.ca
Bruce Cran
President
Consumers’ Association of Canada
604-418-8359
bcranbiz@telus.net
www.consumer.ca

Description for Social Justice Articling Positions Funded by the Law Foundation of Ontario

Name and Location of Organization:
Public Interest Advocacy Centre (PIAC)
1204-ONE Nicholas Street, Ottawa, ON, K1N 7B7
For Articling Year: 2017-2018
Deadline for Application: May 24, 2016
Interviews the weeks of: May 30 and June 6, 2016
Offers will be made: June 20, 2016
Description of Organization and Areas of Law:
The Public Interest Advocacy Centre (PIAC) was federally incorporated in 1976 as a non-profit corporation in 1976 and has charitable status for tax purposes. The organization’s purpose is to provide representation, research and advocacy on behalf of those elements of the public interest that would otherwise be unable to be adequately heard before courts, tribunals, and decision-makers. PIAC has tried to focus its mandate on issues arising from the delivery of important public services including telecommunications, broadcasting, competition law, energy, financial services, and transportation. PIAC seeks to represent and advocate on behalf of ordinary consumers, in particular vulnerable consumers, concerning the rates, policies, rules and regulations associated with the delivery of these services with a view to ensuring principles of access and affordability and fair treatment for the constituencies it tries to serve.
PIAC’s work takes a variety of forms. First, the lawyers of PIAC represent organizations whose membership serves our target constituencies before boards and tribunals where the industries delivering such services are regulated, These organizations include the Canada Without Poverty (formerly NAPO), the Vulnerable Energy Consumers Coalition, the Consumers Association of Canada, the Ontario Council of Senior Citizens Organizations, National Pensioners and Senior Citizens Federation, Option consommateurs, Union de Consommateurs, and Rural Dignity of Canada among others. PIAC’s most significant commitments for such representation occur before the Canadian Radio-Television and Telecommunications Commission and the Ontario Energy Board where PIAC lawyers will be full participants in administrative proceedings including the presentation of evidence, cross-examination of witnesses and the making of
submissions.
Because the delivery of the public services touches upon consideration of other important legal and policy matters, PIAC has also developed expertise and is frequently involved in funded and unfunded work (approximately 20% of PIAC’s work is unfunded) representing its constituencies in competition law and practice, Foundation of Ontario electronic commerce, privacy, multilateral agreements, and general issues of consumer protection.
PIAC carries out its work outside the hearing room in numerous ways. Its extensive studies and reports associated with the above are published and distributed to policy makers and the general public through its web site. PIAC staff participate in discussions with government officials, other industry stakeholders, other public interest communities, as well as groups representing its own constituencies to attempt to secure rights, rules, policies or consensus that will advance the interests of the communities that PIAC serves. PIAC frequently attends before parliamentary and legislative committees to pursue these same goals in legislation. Finally, PIAC’s staff are active in attempting to present in the media, a coherent defense of those communities’ position when the delivery of important public services are in issue.
Description of Responsibilities:
(a) Research and writing on legal and policy issues to support studies and reports of the Centre;
(b) Research and writing to support regulatory interventions in tribunals;
(c) Assistance and attendance with PIAC counsel for tribunal work, meetings with
government officials and presentation before parliamentary committees;
(d) Participation in discussions of advocacy strategy and position with Counsel and Centre clients
Salary/benefits: $51,000 for the articling term, Medical and Dental plus paid vacation
Application includes:

Resume
Cover letter
Undergrad transcripts
Law transcripts
Letters of reference

Applications should be addressed to:
John Lawford
Executive Director and General Counsel
Public Interest Advocacy Centre
Ottawa, ON, K1N 7B7
Fax No. 613 562-0007
Email to: dbrady@piac.ca
Students will be interviewed between the week of May 30-June 3 and the week of June 6-10, 2016 with a view to extending an offer on June 20, 2016.
Please note: A copy of your application will reside with the Organization providing the articling position, and another will stay with the Law Foundation for the purposes of statistical analysis and feedback on the program. This position has been made available through The Law Foundation of Ontario Public Interest Articling Fellowships program.

Canadian Telecom and TV Customers Can Look Forward to More Work from the Commissioner for Complaints for Telecommunications Services (CCTS)

OTTAWA, March 17, 2016 – The Public Interest Advocacy Centre (PIAC) supports the Canadian Radio-Television and Telecommunications Commission’s (CRTC) decision today to ensure the phone, Internet and television customers of the major service providers can bring their complaints to the Commissioner for Complaints for Telecommunications Services (CCTS).
“The CCTS has a valuable role in providing telecom and TV customers with an independent means of resolving complaints with their service providers,” said John Lawford, Executive Director and General Counsel to PIAC. “We welcome the decision to allow the CCTS to receive television in addition to phone and Internet complaints. PIAC looks forward to future collaboration with the CCTS to ensure customers are treated fairly when interacting with their service providers,” noted Lawford.
At the public hearing last November PIAC, the National Pensioners Federation, and the Council of Senior Citizens’ Organizations of B.C. supported CCTS’ work in resolving customer complaints, as well as the addition of television complaints to the CCTS’ mandate. The groups also stressed the importance of public awareness and promotion, service provider participation, and independent governance of CCTS.
In its decision, the CRTC requires all licensed television providers to participate in the CCTS by September 2017. The decision also directs the CCTS to publish its annual budget and plan for activities such as raising consumer awareness and monitoring compliance when creating its annual budget.
PIAC commends the Commission’s direction to the CCTS to also focus on measuring, reporting on and promoting public awareness of CCTS, and will continue to monitor these activities. “The more Canadians are aware of the CCTS, the more effective the CCTS will be in fulfilling its mandate to resolve consumer complaints with communication service providers,” stated Jonathan Bishop, Research Analyst for PIAC.
For more information please contact:
Alysia Lau
Legal Counsel
Public Interest Advocacy Centre (PIAC)
(613) 562-4002 ×38
alau@piac.ca
Jonathan Bishop
Research & Parliamentary Affairs Analyst
Public Interest Advocacy Centre (PIAC)
(613) 562-4002 ×23
jbishop@piac.ca
www.piac.ca

Last Chance to Sound Off for the Basic Service Objective Hearings

The Basic Service Objective hearings will begin in April and the CRTC will hear from stakeholders and the public in order to decide if broadband is essential for Canadians and, if so, at what speeds and how will it be subsidized. PIAC, as a part of the Affordable Access Coalition (AAC), introduced its ideas in its Phase 1 intervention sent to the CRTC, which you can view here.
There is still an opportunity for Canadians interested in having their voices heard to take part in the process. A questionnaire is available until February 29^th; this is a chance to provide useful data for the CRTC hearing, which will impact the affordability of Canadian broadband going forward. You can view more information about it here, and also view additional news about the upcoming hearings.

2016 Summer Student Position at PIAC

Job Posting for 2016 Summer Student Position with: Public Interest Advocacy Centre (PIAC)
Cover letter to: John Lawford – Executive Director, General Counsel
Practice Area: Public Interest
Job Location: Ottawa, ON
Job Title: Summer Student – The emphasis in recruitment will be on a student from the Faculty of Law and/or familiarity with economics, and public policy management. PIAC’s work in consumer protection requires knowledge and skills in these fields.
Job Description: Student will be introduced to the field of consumer protection in the areas of important public services such as telecommunications, energy, broadcasting, transportation and banking. Will assist in research and compilation of reports on issues of concern to Canadians in these areas. Will assist in tribunals.
Salary: 13.75 per hour
Number Of Positions: one
Start Date: May 2016
End Date: August 2016
Cover Letter: 1
Transcripts: 1
Resume: 1
Writing Sample: 1
Letters of Reference: 0
List of References: 0
Upper Year Classes: 0
Mail: 1204-ONE Nicholas Street, Ottawa, ON K1N 7B7
E-mail: dbrady@piac.ca
Fax: 613-562-0007
Deadline: April 1, 2016

The Basic Service Objective Hearings

OESP Can Help Ease the Burden of Your Monthly Energy Bill

Winter is here, and it can be challenging to keep up with the price of electricity for the cold months. Luckily, there is a new subsidy for low income Canadians to help with their electricity bills.
The Ontario Electricity Support Program is an on-bill credit that is based on the number of people living in your house and the combined household income after tax. Through this subsidy you can get $30 to $50 off of your monthly bill ($45-$75 if your home is electrically heated, or you rely on an approved medical device that requires a lot of electricity).
The subsidy is funded by current ratepayers at a very small charge ($0.0011 per kilowatt hour). This means that your rates will not increase at all by applying for this program. It’s no different than applying for credits on your taxes; you should absolutely apply if you qualify. Below is a table showing the amount of your potential credit, in relation to your income and the number of people living in your home.
OESP Credit Amounts

Level of Household Income ($)	Number of people living in home
Level of Household Income ($)	1	2	3	4	5	6	7
28,000 or less	$30	$30	$34	$38	$42	$50	$50
28,001–39,000			$30	$34	$38	$42	$50
39,001–48,000					$30	$34	$38
48,001–52,000							$30

Your credit will apply as soon as you’re approved. This generally will take a month and a half to two months, so the sooner you apply, the sooner you will save money on your bill. Once you are approved, the credit will apply for 2 years.
You can apply online at: https://ontarioelectricitysupport.ca/
If you’re unable to apply online, or you have not filed your income taxes in the last two years, you can still apply through an intake agency (Map of all intake agencies in Ontario here: https://www.google.com/maps/d/viewer?mid=zvXp4ZljmoHU.kMlwTlkpvXf4).
Forms for the program can be found here: https://ontarioelectricitysupport.ca/Forms
To apply you will need:

Your electricity bill account number, service address, and account holder details
The birthdates and names of all residents in your home
Social Insurance Numbers or Temporary Tax Numbers for tax-filing household members (these will only be used to validate the income of applicants)

If you have any further questions about the program, you can contact the OESP directly at:
Phone: (855) 831-8151
Email: help@ontarioelectricitysupport.ca
Their hours are Monday to Friday, from 8:00am to 9:00pm ET

CRTC Television Code A Positive Start for Canadian TV Customers

OTTAWA, January 7, 2016 – The Public Interest Advocacy Centre (PIAC) supports the Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission (CRTC) decision today to establish a mandatory Television Service Provider Code with consumer protections for TV customers.
The new Television Code, which will be mandatory for all licensed television providers by September 2017, includes rules to offer plain-language copies of contracts, provide notifications on changes to channel pricing and packaging, and identify timeframes for service calls.
“The new TV Code provides a great baseline for consumer protections for TV customers by standardizing the rules which television providers must adhere to,” said John Lawford, Executive Director and General Counsel to PIAC.
PIAC and the National Pensioners Federation participated in the Television Code proceeding advocating for measures such as prohibiting changes to fixed-term contracts, restricting television equipment rental policies, privacy, and early cancellation fees.
“While the Television Code lays a great foundation in standardizing rules for consumers, we believe TV customers face many issues which are not currently dealt with in the Code and look forward to building on the groundwork the CRTC has done in the future,” said Alysia Lau, Legal Counsel with PIAC.
For more information please contact:

Alysia Lau
Legal Counsel
Public Interest Advocacy Centre (PIAC)
(613) 562-4002 ×38
alau@piac.ca
www.piac.ca

John Lawford
Executive Director & General Counsel to PIAC
(613) 562-4002 ×25
jlawford@piac.ca
www.piac.ca

Consumer Choice Coalition asks Cabinet to deny Bell Canada’s petition to overturn important CRTC network sharing decision

Consumer Choice Coalition asks Cabinet to deny Bell Canada’s petition to overturn important CRTC network sharing decision
OTTAWA, December 21, 2015 – The Public Interest Advocacy Centre (PIAC) today filed a submission to Cabinet in response to a petition by Bell to overturn an important decision of the Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission’s (CRTC).
The CRTC decision requires large Canadian telecommunications service providers to allow competitors access to their next generation “fibre-to-the-home” networks to serve customers.
“Canada needs network sharing. Canadian consumers face a lack of choice and high prices for internet service,” said John Lawford, Executive Director and General Counsel at PIAC. “The CRTC’s decision promotes innovation and enables Canada’s digital economy.”
In their submission, PIAC, as part of the Consumer Choice Coalition, argued that the CRTC made the right decision and that Bell’s request to overturn it, if granted, would destroy competition and anger Canadians.
“The CRTC very clearly and responsibly consulted on the issues, and considered all of the evidence and views before it,” said Geoff White, Counsel to the coalition. “Overturning the CRTC, or sending the matter back for further consideration, would be a highly unpopular policy mistake.”
PIAC filed its submission as part of a coalition with other organizations, named the Consumer Coalition. The other organizations are:

the British Columbia Old Age Pensioners’ Organization;
the British Columbia Public Interest Advocacy Centre;
the Consumers’ Association of Canada;
the Council of Senior Citizens Organizations of British Columbia;
the Manitoba Public Interest Law Centre; and
the National Pensioners Federation.

A copy of the Consumer Choice Coalition’s full submission can be found here:
Notice No. DGTP-002-2015 — Petition to the Governor in Council concerning Telecom Regulatory Policy CRTC 2015-326 – Submission of the Consumer Choice Coalition

For more information please contact:

John Lawford
Executive Director & General Counsel
Public Interest Advocacy Centre
(613) 562-4002 ×25
lawford@piac.ca
www.piac.ca

Geoff White
Counsel to the Consumer Choice Coalition
(613) 612-1190
geoff@geoffwhitelaw.ca

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