collectives.
Billing and Contracts
The Quebec Consumer Protection Act amendments, effective June
2010, introduced new provisions applicable to wireless, wireline and
Internet service contracts. These amendments include new rules on the
content of such contracts, the determination of the early cancellation
fees that can be charged to customers, the use of security deposits and
the cancellation and renewal rights of the consumers. The amendments
also established new provisions on the sale of prepaid cards and the
disclosure of related costs.
Amendments to the Manitoba Consumer Protection Act took effect in
September 2012 and parallel the changes to the Quebec Consumer
Protection Act. Similar legislation also came into effect in September
2012 in Newfoundland and Labrador and has been tabled in Nova
Scotia. A private member’s bill proposing similar legislation has been
introduced in New Brunswick.
In April 2012, the Ontario government announced that it would be
introducing legislation addressing wireless bills and contracts. The
legislation seeks to ensure that contracts are written in plain language
and spell out which services come with the basic fee and which would
result in a higher bill. It requires providers to obtain consent in writing
before they renew or amend a contract. The legislation also seeks a cap
on the cost of cancelling a fixed-term contract that would vary
depending on the circumstances of the contract. The proposed
legislation, which would affect new contracts, would take effect six
months after being passed and would also cover existing agreements
that are amended, renewed or extended after that date. The legislation
was passed into law in October 2013.
See also “CRTC Wireless Code” section under Wireless Regulation.
Foreign Ownership and Control
Non-Canadians can own and control directly or indirectly:
 up to 33.3% of the voting shares and the related votes of a holding
company that has a subsidiary operating company licenced under the
Broadcasting Act, and
u pt o2 0 % of the voting shares and the related votes of the
operating licensee company may be owned and controlled directly or
indirectly by non-Canadians.
2013 ANNUAL REPORT ROGERS COMMUNICATIONS INC. 67