Canada has adopted a new policy designed to make it easier to switch providers or plans. On March 12, 2026, the CRTC announced that it is eliminating the additional fees that made it difficult to switch, activate, or cancel internet and mobile plans. This is an official decision by the regulator, not just a rumor circulating on social media.
The CRTC’s official release addresses not only cancellation fees but, more broadly, extra fees for activating, changing, or canceling a plan. In other words, this applies not only to termination fees but also to other additional charges that have been a barrier to switching to a more affordable plan or to a different provider.
What exactly did the CRTC decide?
According to the official announcement, the CRTC is eliminating the additional fees that prevented Canadians from changing or canceling their Internet and cell phone plans. The regulator explicitly states that this should give consumers more flexibility and allow them to take advantage of better offers without unexpected surcharges. The CRTC also notes that this decision strengthens the existing Internet Code and Wireless Code, which govern the relationship between customers and telecom providers.
It is also important to note that this decision did not come as a surprise. It is a continuation of the government’s policy to reduce “junk fees” in the telecom sector. Back in the 2024 Budget, the federal government stated that it wanted to make it easier for Canadians to switch between home internet, home phone, and cell phone plans, and the CRTC was tasked with implementing these changes through specific regulations. The budget explicitly stated that carriers should be prohibited from charging extra fees for switching to another provider.
When will this take effect
According to official CRTC documents, the changes are set to take effect in June 2026 to give providers time to technically implement the new rules. This is where the phrase “effective June 2026” seen in viral images comes from.
How this came about
Before making its decision, the CRTC conducted a separate public consultation. In November 2024, the regulator announced that it wanted to determine how fees for changing or canceling a plan prevent people from switching to better offers. At the time, the CRTC explicitly stated that it was considering measures to prevent providers from charging such fees and was accepting comments from citizens, consumer groups, and companies.
In a March 2026 release, the CRTC announced that the decision was made specifically based on the public record following this consultation. The regulator emphasized that it had heard a variety of perspectives—from individual consumers, public organizations, and the service providers themselves.
What this means for consumers
For ordinary customers, the result is quite simple: switching internet or mobile plans should become cheaper and easier. Whereas previously, additional fees could effectively “lock” a person into an unfavorable plan, the CRTC is now removing precisely these barriers. The government explained this logic in the 2024 Budget using a simple example: consumers should be able to find a better plan, switch to a new provider, and cancel their old plan without extra fees just for switching.
In practice, this means it will be easier for people to:
- switch to a cheaper mobile plan;
- change their home internet plan without additional fees;
- cancel an unfavorable plan without a penalty just for terminating or changing the service.
What this decision does not mean
Despite the sensational headlines, this decision does not mean that all telecom fees have suddenly disappeared in Canada or that any contractual obligations of providers are now completely nullified. The official release specifically addresses “extra fees” that acted as a barrier to switching plans. In other words, it is more accurate to frame this as a ban on additional charges for activating, changing, or canceling a plan, rather than a complete elimination of all possible telecom charges in general.
What’s Next
The CRTC has already noted that this is just one part of a broader consumer protection plan. In the coming months, the regulator also aims to simplify rate comparisons to make it easier for Canadians to choose the best plan, and to conduct a future consultation on revising consumer protection codes with the goal of simplifying and consolidating them.