Monday, September 21, 2009

Bell, Telus ordered to give subscribers credits

The Supreme Court of Canada released a recent judgment that provided a much needed boost to many Canadians. The Court upheld a decision of the CRTC that required carriers such as Bell Canada to give their subscribers credits or reduce their rates.

In May of 2002, the CRTC, in the exercise of its rate-setting authority, established a formula to regulate the maximum prices to be charged for certain services offered by carriers such as Bell Canada (the "Price Caps Decision"). Under the formula established by the Price Caps Decision, any increase in the price charged for services in a given year was limited to an inflationary cap, less a productivity offset to reflect the low degree of competition in the marketplace. The CRTC ordered carriers to establish deferral accounts as separate accounting entries in their ledgers to record amounts representing the difference between the rates actually charged and those otherwise determined by the formula.

In December of 2003, Bell Canada sought approval from the CRTC to use the balance in its deferral account to expand high-speed broadband internet services in remote and rural communities. After public consultation, the CRTC decided that the deferral account should be used to improve accessibility for individuals with disabilities and for broadband expansion. Any surplus amounts were to be distributed to residential subscribers either through a one time credit or through rate reductions. This was known as the "Deferral Accounts Decision".

Bell Canada appealed the order of giving one time credits. The Consumer Association of Canada and the National Anti-Poverty Organization appealed the decision that funds be used for broadband expansion. The Federal Court of Appeal dismissed the appeals finding that the Price Caps Decision always contemplated that the use of the deferral accounts would be subject to the CRTC's directions and that the CRTC was acting within its mandate. Telus Communications Inc. joined Bell Canada in appealing this decision to the Supreme Court of Canada.

The Supreme Court unanimously dismissed the appeal. It held that the CRTC's decisions were reasonable based on Canadian telecommunications policy objectives. The CRTC did exactly what it was mandated to do under the Telecommunications Act. It had the statutory authority to set just and reasonable rates, to establish deferral accounts, and to direct the disposition of the funds in those accounts. It was obliged to do so in accordance with the telecommunications policy objectives set out in the legislation and to balance and consider a wide variety of objectives and interests. The Supreme Court held that the CRTC did so in a reasonable way, both in ordering subscriber credits and in approving the use of the funds for broadband expansion.

Regards,

Blair

Friday, September 4, 2009

Supreme Court of Canada to hear Khadr Appeal

Omar Khadr, a Canadian citizen, was taken prisoner in Afghanistan when he was 15 years old and has been detained by U.S. Forces since 2002 at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, where he is currently facing murder and other terrorism-related charges. During his detention, Mr. Khadr was given no special status as a minor. He was not allowed to communicate with anyone outside Guantanamo Bay until November 2004, when he met with legal counsel for the first time. The Canadian Government has asked, through diplomatic channels, for consular access and other assurances, but it is its policy not to request repatriation until the conclusion of the prosecution.

In 2003, Canadian officials questioned Mr. Khadr, still a minor, at Guantanamo Bay, with respect to matters connected to the charges he is now facing, and shared the product of these interviews with U.S. authorities. In 2006, after formal charges were laid against him, Mr. Khadr sought disclosure in Canada of, notably, the records of the interviews conducted at Guantanamo Bay. The S.C.C. ordered disclosure. After the information was disclosed, it became clear that when the officials interviewed Mr. Khadr, they were aware he had been subjected to a form of sleep-deprivation to make him more amenable and willing to talk.

Mr. Khadr asked the Canadian Government to repatriate him. He sought judicial review of the policy and decision of the Canadian Government not to seek his repatriation. The Federal Court granted the application for judicial review. The C.A. dismissed the appeal.Prime Minister of Canada, Minister of Foreign Affairs, the Director of the Canadian Security Intelligence Service and Commissioner of the Royal Canadian Mounted Police v. Omar Ahmed Khadr (F.C.A., August 14, 2009) (33289) "Granted Without Costs. The application for leave to appeal and the motion to stay the order of the Federal Court of Appeal and to expedite the hearing of the appeal are granted without costs. The appeal is to be heard on November 13, 2009, and the schedule for serving and filing the material and any application for leave to intervene shall be set by the Registrar.

Regards,

Blair