The Supreme Court of Canada today granted leave to appeal the deferral account case, which focuses on the use of hundreds of millions of dollars of "extra" funds collected by Canadian telecommunications companies. The CRTC wants the money allocated toward broadband initiatives, while PIAC wants it refunded.
Supreme Court Grants Leave in Deferral Account Case
September 25, 2008
Share this post
3 Comments

Law Bytes
Episode 246: Mohamed Zohiri on the Rise and Emerging Regulation of Stablecoins
byMichael Geist

October 20, 2025
Michael Geist
October 6, 2025
Michael Geist
September 22, 2025
Michael Geist
September 15, 2025
Michael Geist
July 28, 2025
Michael Geist
Search Results placeholder
Recent Posts
The Law Bytes Podcast, Episode 246: Mohamed Zohiri on the Rise and Emerging Regulation of Stablecoins
Senate Bill Would Grant Government Regulatory Power to Mandate Age Verification For Search, Social Media and AI Services Accompanied By Threat of Court Ordered Blocking of Lawful Content
Government Reverses on Bill C-2: Removes Lawful Access Warrantless Demand Powers in New Border Bill
Why The Recent TikTok Privacy Ruling Swaps Privacy for Increased Surveillance
The Law Bytes Podcast, Episode 245: Kate Robertson on Bill C-2’s Cross-Border Data Sharing Privacy Risks
Your summary missed a few key points. First, you forgot to mention that the CRTC actually wants half the money for broadband, 5% for improved accessibility to communications services for disabled Canadians and the remainder would be refunded to the consumers in low cost serving areas (major urban centres) who overpaid for phone service in order to create the deferral account.
Secondly, the granting of leave was not just to the Consumers Association / PIAC motion, but also to the ILECs, who want all of the money to go into rural broadband. The Supreme Court appears to be hearing whether the CRTC had the authority (under sections 7, 27, and 47) to come out with its ruling, not deciding on the merits of one side or the other.
FEES
oh like collecting an early termination fee, when i tape bell caanda saying they are the cause of the breach then giving the credit back to me then stealing it off my dads credit card on an account that should have been closed
These kinds a fees?
Deferral accounts and rural broadband
What may ultimately be up for decision is the regulatory power of the CRTC. If they are not upheld on this one, as the Federal Court of Appeals upheld 2008-1, then how much real regulatory power do they have? I hoped the SCC would refuse to hear the case but once again, delays have been injected into Canada’s painfully slow rollout of broadband to rural areas.