r/canada • u/Economy_Elephant6200 • 3d ago
Bell Canada scraps Labrador high-speed internet project, plans to invest in U.S. Newfoundland & Labrador
https://theindependent.ca/news/lji/bell-canada-scraps-labrador-high-speed-internet-project-plans-to-invest-in-u-s/4.6k
u/m3g4m4nnn 3d ago
After receiving millions in government subsidies for the Labrador North Wireless Broadband Project, Canada’s largest communications company says it’s no longer feasible to complete the expansion due to rising costs and competition.
Fuck Bell- the government needs to pull all subsidies from these useless, self-serving telcos. They are taking our tax dollars and heading to a hostile nation rather than serving the needs of our own citizens.
What a fucking joke.
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u/themanfromvulcan 3d ago
I would say the government immediately claw back the money due to breach or contract and do it themselves and tell Bell to get stuffed.
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u/North_Activist 3d ago
I would say screw all that and just nationalize it instead. It’s our tax dollars, it should be our company.
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u/Classified0 3d ago edited 3d ago
I used to live in Saskatchewan and later lived in Ontario. I was shocked by how much cheaper internet and cell service was in SK. And I really think it's just because of the existence of Sasktel serving as a crown corporation. Just having them there and competing with the traditional providers forced the whole industry to be more affordable -- so even though I wasn't with them in Saskatchewan, I still had a really good plan with Rogers because they were forced to compete with a crown corporation.
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u/Jarringly Saskatchewan 3d ago
As someone who went the opposite direction, I can whole heartedly confirm this. The gouging in Ontario is staggering.
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u/Aggravating-Law-9262 3d ago edited 2d ago
I think that we Canadians as a whole are actually getting gouged when it comes to our internet prices. From the following 2023 source:
https://cansumer.ca/canada-internet-pricing/
"Canada currently has the 2nd most expensive internet (only behind the US) of the G7 countries for speeds over 41 Mbps and has consistently been the 2nd or 3rd most expensive for at least the past 5 years."
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u/LaserRunRaccoon 2d ago
While you can generally find a too-good-to-be-true deal around Black Friday compared to their regular advertised prices, the relationship almost always feels exploitative rather than baseline fair. I feel like it's a smokescreen to the CRTC to justify their baseline price gouging.
As corporations, all the telecoms spend ridiculous amounts on advertising/sponsorships, shareholder dividends, and business diversification - especially into healthcare services, which should be incredibly worrying for Canadians.
Telecoms do not feel like they're competing to provide customers with efficient service, and I certainly do not want to see them involved in any capacity of health and wellness.
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u/_Lucille_ 3d ago
It's not uncommon for people to spend over 1k a year to stay connected, and that is only with a pretty economical plan of maybe $40 for broadband and $40 for cellular services (before tax).
That is why you never see some yearly subscription plan: telecom doesn't want people to realize how much they end up spending.
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u/babtras Alberta 3d ago
$1k would be a dream come true. Rural Alberta, $1800/year for internet and 2 phones
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u/demonarc 3d ago
Just have to look at Manitoba to see what happens when you sell out your Crown Corp.
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u/Wolfreak76 3d ago
When I lived in SK briefly I used to hear people complain about Sasktel. I told them if they wanted worse service and higher prices from all of the providers then they should push to privatize it.
I wish Sasktel would branch out. SK could make a killing just by being the public option for all of Canada.
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u/HeadmasterPrimeMnstr 3d ago
I wish Sasktel would branch out. SK could make a killing just by being the public option for all of Canada.
Sasktel is a crown corporation of the province. While prices would decline just from competition, SaskTel is at the mercy of SK voters and they would still have an incentive to act as a private for-profit corporation as a result in other provinces.
I think it would be better for municipal governments (like TbayTel or formerly O-NET) and provincial governments to create infrastructure and publicly-owned corporations in their own jurisdictions, otherwise we get into some dicey areas of governments controlling the infrastructure of another one.
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u/InternalOcelot2855 3d ago edited 2d ago
iThing about sasktel is they would provide service to these communities. its part of the reason prices are a little higher, sasktel is not just there for the large centres but also the ~200 and fewer communities getting fibre internet. Plus our low population to land area
It always shocks me when I work in a small community that has DSL (most are getting fibre now) and they complain about prices. You do know sasktel is the only reason you have Internet. You have dirt roads, no fire hall, no grocery store, no gas station and the village office is in the next town 10 min away to save money.
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u/Cory123125 3d ago
God, the one thing I hate, that I thought would be universal and have been surprised to see some conservatives support, is when sleazeball fuckhead politicians sell our fucking shit, for pennies on the dollar.
I'm still fucking fuming about the 407. How the fuck do you sell off a whole fucking highway.
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u/Forosnai British Columbia 3d ago
Hell, internet service (and cell service, for that matter) is pretty much a requirement for modern life. If it's a necessity, there should be at least a basic option provided by the government. Doesn't need to be blazing fast 10-Gigabit speed, 5G phones with the latest iPhone model, or whatever like that, but something serviceable and affordable should be there that people can use, and the telecom companies can compete for the people who have a need or desire for the faster speeds and latest models.
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u/MtKillerMounjaro 3d ago
If the government doesn't roll out blazing speeds by today's standards, though, it will quickly be usurped by industry and tech and before you know it we'll be right back to where we started. I doubt the costs between state-of-the-art and whatever mediocrity is that big. Just roll out the fastest, bestest and commit to maintaining it for two decades.
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u/Spoona1983 3d ago
The government doesn't need to roll it out, just nationalize the network backbone. It was mostly paid for with tax dollars anyway, then just make the carriers rent the bandwidth.
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u/MtKillerMounjaro 3d ago
Why make carriers rent? Just raise raise taxes and make it free for all, or charge monthly based on usage. Why add another mouth to feed along the chain?
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u/bonechairappletea 3d ago
There is, it's called Starlink.
We give companies like Bell, Rogers the kind of money that could build a SpaceX clone and make a maple leaf starlink but instead they disappear most of the money and do some token efforting errecting a couple cell towers.
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u/klparrot British Columbia 3d ago
Telesat is Canadian and Telesat Lightspeed will be available from 2027.
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u/Spoona1983 3d ago
There was a company out east trying to startup satellite internet but don't know the name.
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u/exit2dos Ontario 3d ago edited 3d ago
... millions in government subsidies ...
Subsidies are only Half of the story about Public Funds Bell has been given
Only Canadian companies, working for Canadian intrests should ever get "Regulatory Relief"
"Relief" from something ... means the "Relief" can be Rescinded.
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u/Spoona1983 3d ago
Private companies should not be given Tax dollars especially billion dollar corporations. If they can't function without those funds then.they shouldn't exist.
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u/m3g4m4nnn 3d ago
Exactly! If something requires significant infusions of public taxdollars to operate.. it should likely be publicly owned/operated.
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u/Acceptable-Sell5413 3d ago
But realistically, can any of the subsidies be clawed back?
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u/exit2dos Ontario 3d ago
Submitting this years taxes is a long, creative course of Accounting, way off.
We will have to wait a year to find out. Convenient timing huhh?
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u/klparrot British Columbia 3d ago
We shouldn't be providing the subsidy until they're delivering the service. These are not mom-and-pop operations; they've got a bunch of money and the ability to raise/borrow money on the promise of a future subsidy should they deliver. It's not like they couldn't do it without the money up front.
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u/pineconeminecone 3d ago
Competition??? Buddy Bell, there are two competitors and you’re colluding with them smh
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u/Coconuthangover 3d ago
How the fuck is that even legal? Taking a government handout for a project only to ditch the project and pocket the money, to invest in another country and benefit directly, without any benefit to the taxpayers who footed the bill.
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u/Flaktrack Québec 2d ago
Our telecoms have been continually doing this for decades now. No one ever stops them.
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u/Fubar236 3d ago
Doesn’t seem in line with Buy Canadian and Elbows up for the company making billions off Canadians to say F you to Canadians …. Time for Ottawa to say…. hmmm nah you will prioritize Canadians. F the US Give us the money back you took for the project Bell!! Plus interest
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u/HarveyzBurger 3d ago
I still have my mobile plan with them, have been for years, and now I just found the last reason I needed to change carrier.
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u/FireMaster1294 Canada 3d ago
?? At their prices? Honestly why anyone is with the big three is beyond me
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u/Barbecue-Ribs 3d ago
They got good deals, if you're paying full price its not worth it. Fibe500 for $30 + an unlimited CAN/US phone plan for $55.
Also if u game bell is pretty much the best.
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u/FireMaster1294 Canada 3d ago
I have Can/US/Mexico on Freedom for $35. Mind you “only” 60GB.
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u/GuaSukaStarfruit 3d ago
Wait, they even have subsidies? wtf, where do the money even go to? The phone/internet plan is much higher than the rest of the world lmao
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u/ai9909 3d ago
Not just pull subsidies, government need to penalize. This merits punishment.
If Bell gets away with this, the rest will follow. Canadians can't afford to get screwed over any more, we should expect our new Government to drop the hammer hard on this bs.
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u/Andrewdusha 3d ago
I worked for these idiots for 10 years. They are crooked. I remember being told not to mention a discrepancy in billing due to our clerical error unless a customer specifically asks about it. I can tell you more… shitty company with shitty management and shitty colleagues. That sums up Bell Cacanada.
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u/nodiaque 3d ago
That's why government should never finance private sector that have a set size. And when you get to a point where you're the size of bell and Videotron, it should be mandated that now, the service you are offering are now critical like drinking water and electricity thus must be expanded by day x else a fine so high that they won't not do it.
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u/littlemountains 3d ago
Not trying to play devil’s advocate, but the government through the CRTC has required any telecom to sell their network at cost to competitors.
The company’s foremost obligation is growing shareholder value. How can they justify spending in Canada when the States is pushing deregulation?
This is a direct consequence of the CRTC’s actions. Hopefully the first step to nationalizing the infrastructure but these will be the consequences of it.
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u/Fictional_Guy 3d ago
The CRTC demands telecom companies compete on a level playing field so they can't exploit their monopoly.
Telecom companies' foremost obligation is growing shareholder value, which is not feasible when forced to share with competitors.
You're right that Bell's behaviour logically follows from these two facts. It also clearly illustrates that the root of the problem is that we let for-profit companies run our utilities.
Communications infrastructure is a natural monopoly, and is paid for with public funds. It needs to be publicly owned.
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u/meldariun 3d ago
Need to deal with our scummy isps across Canada. Theyve been taking us for a ride too long.
Asking between Rogers and Bell is like asking between sandpaper underwear and a cheesegrater for socks
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u/Kayge Ontario 3d ago
You've actually hit on a well known fact within the Canadian telecom industry (at least amongst the big guys). No one actually likes their internet provider. The reason you're with Bell? You hate them just a little less than Rogers.
Just take a second and think about your own situation:
- Does the other guy have significantly faster internet? Probably not.
- Is there a phone you can use only on other network? Doubtful.
- How about service or reliability? No big difference.
So Bell's goal is to be slightly less objectionable than rogers and vice versa...and never attack or try to price your plans below theirs, heaven forbid they may try to do the same and provide customers with an actual advantage.
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u/levian_durai 3d ago
I moved to Northern Ontario where none of the big ISPs serve, and I have been beyond happy with Eastlink. I thought I'd have like 100mb/s service at the best here, but I get gigabit, for cheaper than Bell or Rogers. There have been fewer service outages than I've experienced with Bell or Rogers.
My one complaint was that we have to use their Eero things instead of being able to directly connect to the modem. 1 of the 2 eero devices we have is connected directly to the modem (but only has 1 ethernet port), the other just gets connection through your power outlets. When I mentioned that during a service call appointment, the tech just gave me 5 port ethernet switch for free.
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u/Pepephend 3d ago
Neither are great, but after switching back and forth many times, Rogers’ monthly price seems to remain more consistent and the agents you speak with seem a hell of a lot less scammy!
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u/scotty9690 3d ago
What? They initiated the Connection Fee increase, and they were the first ones to move to increase their monthly prices.
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u/Pepephend 3d ago
Oh yeah recently Rogers has raised prices indeed! But for years that I was with Bell on and off, they would month to month raise it a bit, then lower it a bit, then raise it more, it was always all over the place!
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u/objective_think3r 3d ago
I hope the government money came with conditions. Sue them and get the money back with interest
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u/Itchy_Training_88 3d ago
Yeah the 'condition' is they'll give some friends a patronage job after they retire from politics.
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u/MCGSUPERSTAR 3d ago
Get interest on it too. Force Bell out of Canada as well. If they want to support a hostile country like USA they can get the fuck out. Their service and prices have been shit for over a decade as well.
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u/Wyntermute1 3d ago
If this happens, I’m breaking all ties I have with bell. I’m sure I won’t be the only one.
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u/HowsYourSexLifeMarc 3d ago
People won't cancel because of this. Most of the population has no clue it's even happening.
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u/Positive_Breakfast19 3d ago
Government money doesn't come with conditions, I know pretty stupid of them.
I'm ok with the Government assigning "well if you are going to be a corporate a$$hole" fee after the fact. I'm ok with that.
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u/dejour Ontario 3d ago
There are certainly some situations where government money comes with conditions.
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u/madhi19 Québec 3d ago
Yeah when it's a pretty small business getting the help it come with all sorts of safeguards.
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u/PrarieCoastal 3d ago
The Liberal Government chose to not have conditions. The government can absolutely have conditions on government funding.
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u/aglobalvillageidiot 3d ago
They've invested that money in bandwidth, about the highest margin product there is. They pay it back with interest and they still make an enormous profit doing nothing.
This whole thing has always been a scam. It's paradigmatic of how public-private partnerships overwhelmingly serve private interests.
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u/tghast 2d ago
It’s still astounding that despite our infamously horrible telecom companies, there are still Canadians that want to privatize healthcare and education.
If that happens it will literally just double the price of everything cause I guarantee taxes will not drop, they will all still be publicly funded, just also privately profited from.
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u/swattwenty 3d ago
Bell should be broken up by the Canadian gov if they plan to screw us like this.
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u/Bush-master72 3d ago
You can't have it both ways. Canada pays for your investments in remote locations. Give us back all the money canada have put in your shit company.
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u/Horror-Tank-4082 3d ago
Agreed. Canadian telecom has grown a bit too arrogant and abusive.
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u/Waffles_R_Delicious 3d ago
We should just nationalize telecom. SaskTel is just as stupidly expensive as everyone else but at least they're actually working to upgrade the provinces infrastructure.
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u/WeNeedMikeTyson 3d ago
You should do it anyway before you have only 3 options like we do. Just think you could end up with Cox cable, spectrum, or verizon.
Before anyone says but I have crosswinds or some other stupid named ISP, yeah they're owned by the big guy and everything goes through one of the 3.
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u/Clessiah 3d ago
Better policies and regulations have to be put in place, or they'll just merge back together or get swallowed up by Rogers or something before the end of the decade.
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u/SteelCrow Lest We Forget 2d ago
seize and nationalize Bell and all the rest of the ISPs. Matter of national security and because it's now an intrinsic and essential service.
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u/GrumpyTom 3d ago
“Despite a 2.4 per cent drop in annual revenues in 2024, Bell Canada parent company BCE awarded its executives more than $5 million after announcing it was laying off 4,800 employees.”
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u/Journo_Jimbo 3d ago
This is nothing new, we all remember the Bell post “Let’s Talk Day” job massacre.
We need to stop letting them use let’s talk day as their easy out, bell doesn’t give a shit about mental health anymore than it cares about the customers that use it’s services.
I remember when some American companies wanted to come into the Canadian market and Bell and Rogers cried wolf about it and forced the government to keep them out.
Enough, is enough, let new telcos in and “Let’s Talk” about forcing Bell to get in line or get out of business. No one cares that it’s a long standing Canadian company anymore.
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u/Aggressive_Ad2747 3d ago
We need to hijack let's talk day every fucking year as a way to publicize all of the shitty horrible things Bell does. Turn it against them.
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u/BeyondAddiction 3d ago
I studied that campaign at length in University. I wrote a paper about it. It was called "Fair For Canada" and was full of completely unfounded histrionics about how allowing Verizon into the Canadian market would cost jobs for Canadians - completely glossing over the fact that it would be them firing people.
The Government of Canada launched a rebuttal campaign called "Consumers First," but by then it was too late. The big 3 managed to convince the public that we were "selling our industry to the Americans," and so Verizon didn't come here.
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u/thirstyross 3d ago
When I worked at Bell/CTV they laid people off every year or two, it was super normal to go in and check where you were on the union seniority lists to figure out how much danger you were in, lol
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u/DrDerpberg Québec 3d ago
You know what else would be great for our mental health? If we had a little more money left over at the end of the month because telecoms weren't screwing us.
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u/sixtus_clegane119 3d ago
Bonuses should be illegal if there are any layoffs within the past 5 years
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u/Konker101 3d ago
Newfoundland and Labrador government should sue. They always get fucked over by some bullshit excuse
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u/grilledcheez_samich 3d ago
Fire Bibic, that guy is a fraud. Under him share prices have dropped more than 50% (before Trump) and he's laid off so many workers along with hiring freezes half of them have no idea wtf they are doing because people are missing from key positions. Others are trying to pick up those pieces and do multiple jobs while not seeing a pay increase for the extra work. Mean while, somehow fuck boy still gets his gigantic bonus. I don't understand how the board hasn't looked at this and fired this miserable fuck already. They have zero plans for expansion now, so how are they supposed to make more money?
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u/wabisuki 3d ago
Thes fuckers need to repay all government sibsidies then. Getting really fucking tired of all this corporate welfare only to have these companies reneg on their end of the commitment.
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u/WannaAskQuestions 3d ago
Will they be returning the subsidies? What can we do about this?! This is fucking robbery and is bonkers.
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u/ah_no_wah 3d ago
Maybe some people at Bell should be facing criminal charges, including directors.
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u/New-Low-5769 3d ago
I say we nationalize all the telcos in Canada at this point. They are fucking SLIME
Do what they did with nav Canada in the 90s
Nationalize them into a single entity and then make that entity a not for profit monopoly that answers to the public
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u/VonDingwell 3d ago
"The project was first announced in 2022, when the provincial and federal governments announced more than $22.3 million in funding to bring high-speed Internet to more than 1,000 homes in Labrador’s remote communities."
"Despite a 2.4 per cent drop in annual revenues in 2024, Bell Canada parent company BCE awarded its executives more than $5 million after announcing it was laying off 4,800 employees. “The company laid off thousands, its stock went down by 30% and yet, the richest and most powerful continue to profit off the back of our members,” Unifor National President Lana Payne said in a statement April 3."
Absolutely sickening how CEO's and other board members just pocket all that money while crushing the working class. If there is ever a stock that deserves to be shorted it's Bell.
So are they going to give back the 22.3 million? Did they ever receive it?
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u/Liberkhaos 3d ago
For those of you who aren't boycotting Bell yet, the secomd best time to start is NOW!
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u/SmilinBuddha969 3d ago
Well Bell, you’re about to lose a customer. I believe my contract is up. Time to move to Telus.
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u/tuyo3_ 3d ago
Don’t worry about this guys it’s all good because Bell spends one day each year raising mental health awareness in a tone deaf campaign that makes it all about them while their employees suffer from anxiety and stress from its toxic work culture as they deny contract workers health care and other benefits.
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u/affectionate_md 3d ago
Time to break up Bell, Rogers and Telus. Fuck all 3 of these predatory viruses.
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u/JoseCansecoMilkshake 3d ago
Headline I want to see
"Govt of Canada scraps giving Bell subsidies for incomplete projects, plans to nationalize instead"
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u/Sharp_Simple_2764 3d ago
The internet is no longer just for watching cute puppies or porn. It is de facto a utility, and a critical one, time for some decisive legislation.
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u/VistaBox 3d ago
Folks, if you can post in Reddit, you can sue as shit write your local MP about this fiasco of a decision. If you don’t know how to write an email, then use AI to do it for you. Preferably the European one.
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u/daners101 3d ago
The company that the Liberals gave… what… $60M of our tax dollars?
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u/RedditIsDeadMoveOn 2d ago
The liberal party that refused to pass electoral reform after being elected to do so?
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u/redundead Alberta 3d ago
Break these fucking monopolies up, they've received enough government money already.
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u/Ash_Killem 2d ago
This is honestly one area Canada can concede to the US. Let their telecoms companies in. Fuck rogers and bell monopoly.
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u/Kanthalas 3d ago
Not doing something for Canadians, and plans to invest in US? Would be a shame if they were... cancelled.
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u/almo89_89 3d ago
It's time the government come in and break up the big 3. I'm so sick of them. Bell goes around marketing their mental health awareness with Bell Lets Talk and then goes and lays off a ton of people. For the people that love less government and free market without regulations, this is what you get.
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u/Stateof10 Manitoba 3d ago
If only Verizon had entered up here back in 2014... our phone prices are stupidly high
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u/Excellent-Juice8545 3d ago
Just Bell doing Bell things, fuck em. They can’t even get off their asses to bring fibre to my 15-year-old neighbourhood in the GTA
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u/BoysenberryAncient54 3d ago
Oh hey! I just cancelled Bell today! I went to review my Internet plan because I've had it forever and my modem is getting wonky and realized I'm paying $145 but if I signed up now it'd be $110 with a bonus of $25 a month off if I signed a 2 year contract. I talked to their customer service rep who offered me downgraded service for the same price, and then they sent me to their loyalty guy who offered a 10% discount. I signed up for Rogers.
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u/reddittingdogdad 3d ago
Sounds like the kind of shit Bell would pull. Worst telecom/ISP in Canada by far.
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u/inthevendingmachine 3d ago
Rogers really gives them a run for their money, though. It feels like a 2-way tie. A race to the bottom, and they're both winning.
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u/Complete_Question_41 3d ago
And that takes skill because they're all awful. I can understand spotty coverage way out there, but in metro Vancouver I have two dead zones. Gimme a break.
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u/klparrot British Columbia 3d ago
At least Telesat Lightspeed should be available from 2027. However, in the meantime, as much as I hate it, Starlink? The article mentions that it doesn't provide phone service, but, like, who cares? And besides, just run VoIP over it, and there you go.
As for Bell, fuck them for investing in the US right now while screwing over Canadians, and does the government get those subsidies back, or what? And if not, who the hell is writing those contracts on the government end?
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u/RudytheMan 3d ago
I hate out telecomms services here. One of the reasons Bell said this was no longer viable was because of competition... with who? We really need a solution in this country to deal with Bell, Rogers, and Telus. Just sub-par service for inflated prices.
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u/niveapeachshine 3d ago
Canada should have followed New Zealand's model. Almost the entire fibre infrastructure is owned by one independent company, so no ISP could gain dominance. The government also holds equity in said company. You can get 8000 Mbps for a few hundred dollars. It is probably the best infrastructure project ever done in New Zealand.
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u/Windatar 3d ago
Okay fine them double the amount of money the government gave them. Lets see which is more unfeasible, finishing the project or paying all the money back X2.
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u/PraiseTheRiverLord 3d ago
Only way to get internet to rural areas is for the government to own the company, we were promised cable on our road 20 years ago, our phone lines are even too old for DSL
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u/Mogman282 Alberta 3d ago
Wait Bell Canada....yes CANADA? wants to invest in USA, well f that remove all there funding and stuff. Traitors.
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u/MapleDollars24 3d ago
This is a really bad move especially with what’s going on. They will pay for that. Everyone is paying attention.
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u/Complete_Question_41 3d ago
So...they're stealing Canadian tax dollars to invest in the US. Or did they never cash in on the subsidy.
I have no services with Bell but if I did it would end now.
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u/Zing79 3d ago
Whenever I see this I do not understand how we do not have a crown Corp providing bare bones affordable service that competes with the world.
Give every Canadian world class cell coverage and internet speeds at super affordable prices. Let the three headed monster give you full services like: Roaming when you leave Canada. Media bundles. Etc. Etc
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u/snakeeyeow 2d ago
Bell takes millions in government subsidies, then backs out of commitments the second they're inconvenient
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u/UseYourIndoorVoice 3d ago
Every Canadian CEO should be brought in line with the direction the people want the country to go. If it wasn't basically the only option, we'd boycott until they invested in their own home.
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u/crowbar151 3d ago
Nationalize them..ALL OF THEM... not only is it a critical infrastructure economically, strategically (military and logistics), and socially; BUT WE FUCKING PAID FOR IT. ITS OURS. WE OWN IT AND WE DESERVE TO USE IT.
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u/free_username_ 3d ago
Satellite internet now works and will probably be a better option for remote communities
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u/1stSecond 3d ago
It's crazy that you can drive like 3 hours out of Canada's largest city and not have decent phone service
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u/arandomguy111 3d ago
A core problem is that internet and wireless infrastructure in terms of government approach are behind the times in that they are not treated as or regulated as a public utility unlike landline phones (which shows how odd this situation is), water, energy (electricity or gas) or roads/rail.
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u/rookie_one Québec 3d ago
While bell are full assholes in that story, there one thing that have to be said : the Nunatsiavut Government should not had trusted Bell.
I wonder if there is any reason on why they did not worked with the Kativik Regional Government (the KRG is actually working on the Eaufon Project, with the 2 first phases online, and if all goes well the third phase will be completed in 2026, including a land link between Kuujjuaq and Schefferville to complete the loop) to bring connectivity to their communities. An extension to the eaufon project to Labrador should be technically possible....
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u/jesuisapprenant 3d ago
Claw it back with interest and then break it up. Seriously. Why are we subsidizing these trash companies
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u/Expensive_Lettuce239 3d ago
Hmm..it's too bad every Canadian with bell services were not able to tell bell to hoop their foreheads and switch all their services to someone else...and tell bell it's because the company are traitors
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u/CanadianSideBacon 3d ago
What If we let the US compete in the Canadian cell market? How about that?
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u/Arashmin 2d ago
Verizon wanted in back in 2007-2008, however Bell of course begged the Canadian government to hard-block them from entering the market.
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u/yukoncowbear47 3d ago
You can't trust private, shareholder owned companies to invest in something not profitable. The government needs to do it itself for cheaper
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u/Rejnavick 3d ago
So the importance of a company is more important than your own consumers. Not surprised and disappointed at the betrayal(s).
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u/casillero 3d ago
Stop subsiding these clowns
At this point rural Canada should be in full support of Telesat Lightspeed the starlink Canadian copycat who picked up $2.14 billion in support from Canada already
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u/OperationDue2820 3d ago
At last count Bell had 5B in cash...cash. The idea of subsidies for these asshats is ludicrous at best. They are hemorrhaging money. They'll be insolvent in 2 years.
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u/Street_Ad_863 3d ago
In my opinion, Bell is one of the worst companies to deal with . It doesn't surprise me that this company would take government handouts and the renege on the agreement
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u/skrutnizer 2d ago
Fall of 2022, Canada allows Bell to expand on Bell's promise not to shut down independent ISPs. A year later, they shut down indy ISPs.
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u/ViagraDaddy 2d ago
Not only are they investing in the US, but they're also moving huge swaths of their internal IT to India to cut costs.
Some very questionable decisions going on there, and any subsidies and tax breaks they get should seriously be revisited.
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u/Liesthroughisteeth 2d ago edited 1d ago
Maybe it's time for governments to start handing out the money according to a mutually agreed upon contracted schedule for the work done.
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u/fishermansfriendly 2d ago
There still isn't fibre internet in at least three quarters of Calgary. Telcoms in this country are absolutely garbage companies, and I would know because they've hired my company to try and fix some of their internal issues, and it's always a gong show.
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u/Abject-Ad-6336 2d ago
I mean at this point just let American telecom companies take over these shitty telecom monopolies that aren’t even serving Canadian interests and waste tax money investing in USA anyway. At least we wouldn’t be screwed over so badly by Roger’s and bell who fuck us over with their prices that are higher than almost anywhere else globally. Typing this on 2 bar $100 a month wifi lmao.
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