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Canada, together we won these cell phone customer protection rules that kick in today

Today, our hard-won new cell phone customer protection rules go into effect for all new cell phone contracts/sales. The new rules, which were announced by the CRTC (Canada’s telecom policy-maker) in June, apply right across Canada, so cell phone users from coast to coast to coast will benefit. Those on existing contracts will benefit from the rules by June 3, 2015 at the latest - although the Big Three are fighting to delay it further.

These new cell phone customer protection rules will not be enough to rein in Canada’s Big Telecom giants, but this is a step in the right direction. The Big Three cell phone providers control over 90% of the market and ultimately that number will need to change if Harper and Industry Minister Moore are to make good on their promises to bring down prices and improve choice. The rules - formally called the Wireless Code of Conduct - apply from today, December 2nd, to all new cell phone contracts.

To recap, here are some examples of how Canadian cell phone users will benefit:

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