In the opinion of the Member of Parliament for Timmins-James Bay, telecommunications companies are using COVID-19 to take advantage of rural and northern families.
In Parliament, New Democrat Charlie Angus called on the Liberal government to improve internet service to those communities and stop the exorbitant rates the families are paying for substandard service when their children are getting their schooling online.
“I have a family that got a bill for $650 a month,” Angus said. “I have another family that have to drive into town to the Tim Hortons, so their kids can sit in the car and do their homework.”
“Everybody has to step up in the age of COVID and that includes corporations,” he continued. “So what steps will this government take to make the telcom carriers like Bell play their part and stop fleecing rural northern families?”
Deputy Prime Minister Chrystia Freeland replied that corporate Canada should be doing its part during the pandemic, and that improved internet service to remote communities continues to be a government priority.