Ottawa, ON – Today, the Hon. Erin O’Toole, Leader of Canada’s Conservatives, introduced his plan to lower cell phone and Internet bills and improve broadband access. Canadians pay some of the highest cell phone and Internet rates in the world. As the pandemic has shown, access to reliable cell and Internet service is critical for Canadians. “A big reason for pricey cell phone bills is a lack of competition,” said O’Toole. “A Conservative government will always stand up for consumers and promote more competition to help provide more affordable options for Canadians and lower bills.” As part of Canada’s Recovery Plan, Canada’s Conservatives will: -- Allow international telecommunications companies to provide services to Canadian consumers, provided that the same treatment is reciprocated for Canadian companies in that company’s home country. -- Build up digital infrastructure to connect all of Canada to high-speed Internet by 2025, ensuring that all Canadians have reliable access to the Internet regardless of where they live. -- Make investments in rural broadband and lowering prices a necessary criteria of winning spectrum auctions and apply “use-it-or-lose-it” rules that require telecommunication companies to immediately begin building infrastructure to connect customers. -- Empower local communities and businesses by promoting investment in their own wireless and broadband projects and reducing local and regional dependence on the national telecommunications giants. “Canada’s Recovery Plan will foster more competition, create jobs in rural communities, and ensure Canadians have access to affordable wireless choices,” said O’Toole. “We are the only choice to secure the future and ensure affordable cell phone service for you and your family.”

Ottawa, ON – Today, the Hon. Erin O’Toole, Leader of Canada’s Conservatives, announced his plan to build key infrastructure to get the economy moving through Canada’s Recovery Plan. “As Prime Minister, I will end the delays and get shovels in the ground on these major infrastructure projects to create jobs and improve the lives of millions of Canadians,” said O’Toole. “We’re going to build the world-class public transit, road, and 5G networks our country needs to compete and get every part of Canada moving again.” Instead of building the modern infrastructure needed for growing communities across Canada, the Trudeau Liberal government sat on billions of unspent infrastructure dollars and waited months to step up as a full funding partner for nationally significant projects. Canada’s Conservatives will be partners on key projects across the country, like Ontario’s GTA transit plan, Vancouver’s SkyTrain extension to Langley, Quebec City’s Third Link, and the Calgary Green Line. Through Canada’s Recovery Plan, Canada’s Conservatives will immediately unlock those unused dollars and invest in shovel-ready projects that will put Canadians to work, cut commute times, and clean up the environment. Under the infrastructure plan, Canada’s Conservatives will also: -- Provide more flexibility to municipalities and First Nations by removing onerous requirements to receive federal infrastructure funding. -- Scrap the failed Canada Infrastructure Bank and commit the money sitting unused on its books to infrastructure projects that can strengthen our economy. -- Reprioritize the Investing in Canada Plan toward infrastructure projects that would have the maximum benefit for economic recovery. -- Build digital infrastructure to connect all of Canada to high-speed Internet by 2025. “Our infrastructure investments are pivotal to rebuilding our economy and making life easier for Canadians,” said O’Toole. “Only Canada’s Conservatives have a plan to build infrastructure faster and create good jobs for Canadians to fuel our recovery.”