Innovation Minister François-Philippe Champagne refused to overturn that 2021 CRTC decision this May, though he did propose a new policy direction for the CRTC that the government said at the time would “enhance wholesale Internet access and competition.”Article content
Hatfield said small ISPs warned the CRTC and the government “repeatedly” they can’t do business under the current system. Lawford said after the CRTC reversed course on lowering wholesale rates in 2021, the CRTC and the government “didn’t believe the small ISPs that they were going to have trouble.” Lawford said Champagne should step in directly and set lower wholesale rates in legislation. “Clearly the regulator can’t do it. And clearly the market effects are destruction of the independent ISP sector,” he said.