Canadian wireless prices still high by most standards; ISED chided for ‘spin’
TORONTO — The federal government was chided Wednesday for taking a positive “spin” on Canadian wireless service prices when it released an annual comparison with other countries this week.
Under a headline that said “Cellphone plan prices drop for millions of Canadians,” a press release issued by the Department of Innovation, Science and Economic Development said the government recognized many Canadians think wireless prices are too high but also highlighted “positive trends” that are emerging.
It said some low-use mobile plans — which had voice service but no data included — were cheaper in Canada than in the United States for the first time since 2013.
However, it didn’t mention that Nordicity Group Ltd., which was commissioned to do the annual comparison, also found Canadian wireless telephone prices were the world’s highest in half of the six service levels measured — and second- or third-highest in the other three.