Telecom contract switching rules in force

Summary#

This order (/SI/2025-106/) makes Division 37 of Part 4 of the Budget Implementation Act, 2024, No. 1 come into force on the day the order was made — October 30, 2025. The division adds consumer-focused rules to the Telecommunications Act intended to make it easier to switch or renew home internet and cell phone plans.

What it does#

• Fixes the day this order was made (October 30, 2025) as the day Division 37 comes into force.
• Introduces three consumer-facing changes to the Telecommunications Act:
  • Requires carriers to send advance notifications when a contract is about to end, including information about relevant plans on the market.
  • Requires carriers to provide self-serve options so customers can change or cancel services on their own.
  • Prohibits carriers from charging fees that discourage customers from switching plans or providers.
• Leaves the detailed rules (what information must be in notices, which fees are banned, what self-serve features are required) to be set by the Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission (CRTC) through its regulatory process.

Who's affected#

• People with home internet or mobile phone contracts who want clearer end-of-contract notices or easier ways to switch plans.
• Telecom companies and service providers, who will need to follow the new rules once the CRTC sets the details.
• The CRTC, which will decide the specifics through its ongoing regulatory proceedings.
• Industry and consumer groups that took part in the CRTC consultations in late 2024 and early 2025.

Why it matters#

• For consumers: you should get clearer reminders before contracts end, be able to change or cancel services yourself, and face fewer fees that make switching expensive or awkward.
• For providers: systems, websites, and billing may need changes to comply with whatever the CRTC requires.
• The actual effect depends on upcoming CRTC decisions. The order brings the legal framework into force, but the regulator will set the practical rules and timelines.
• The government cites recent price trends as background: wireless prices fell 34.5% in the two years after the Rogers–Shaw transaction and 44.2% over five years, and wireline prices fell 4.9% (two years) and 4.3% (five years). These figures are given as context for why the changes were made.