What is changing on June 12, 2026
Starting June 12, 2026, Canadian telecom providers will no longer be able to charge certain fees to activate, change, or cancel cellphone and internet plans.
The change comes from Telecom Regulatory Policy CRTC 2026-43, released on March 12, 2026. The CRTC says the new protections are meant to reduce fees that can discourage customers from changing plans or switching providers.
For cellphone customers, the rule applies to individual and small business customers of mobile wireless services offered by all wireless service providers.
Which fees are affected
The CRTC is adding a new definition for an activation or modification fee. In plain terms, this covers fees charged because you are:
- activating a new retail cellphone plan
- changing an existing cellphone plan
- being charged another fee whose main purpose is to discourage you from changing your plan or cancelling service
The CRTC also updated the Wireless Code so that when there is no subsidized device included in the contract, a provider must not charge an early cancellation fee.
That means the rule is especially relevant for BYOD customers, month-to-month customers, and customers who already own their phone.
What may still cost money
The fee ban does not mean every charge connected to a phone account disappears.
You may still need to pay:
- the remaining balance on a financed or subsidized phone
- charges for optional products or services you agreed to buy
- regular monthly plan charges up to the cancellation or transfer date
- taxes and any normal usage charges not included in your plan
The CRTC decision also allows reasonable fees related to physical installation for telecom services. That is more relevant to home internet than most cellphone plans.
What this means if you are switching carriers
If you are switching cellphone providers after June 12, 2026, the process should have fewer extra fees attached to it. A provider should not charge a separate activation or plan-change fee just because you are starting or modifying service.
Before switching, check three things:
- Device balance: If your current phone is financed, leased, or subsidized, ask for the exact amount remaining.
- Plan type: Confirm whether you are month-to-month, prepaid, postpaid, or on a fixed-term agreement.
- Number transfer: If you want to keep your phone number, do not cancel your old plan first. Start the transfer with the new provider and let the porting process close the old account.
What this means for BYOD plans
BYOD plans should become easier to compare because fewer one-time fees should appear during activation or plan changes.
If you already own your phone, or if you buy a used phone separately, you can compare plans based more directly on the monthly price, data amount, network, roaming features, and contract terms.
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What to ask your provider
If you are quoted a fee after June 12, 2026, ask what the fee is for and whether it is an activation or modification fee under the updated Wireless Code.
Useful questions include:
- Is this fee connected to activating or changing my cellphone plan?
- Is there any device balance or subsidy remaining on my account?
- Is this fee optional, or is it required to start or change service?
- Can you show where this fee appears in my service agreement?
If the answer is unclear, ask the provider to review the charge before you accept the plan.
What to do before June 12
If you are planning to switch before June 12, ask whether the provider can waive activation or plan-change fees manually. In the CRTC decision, the Commission noted that large service providers said they can manually waive fees while updating their systems.
It is also useful to keep a copy of your service agreement, final bill, and any chat or email transcript where fees are discussed.
Bottom line
Starting June 12, 2026, Canadian cellphone customers should see fewer extra fees when activating, changing, or cancelling eligible plans. The main exception is device financing or subsidy amounts. If you still owe money on a phone, that balance can still apply.
For people using an unlocked phone or buying a used phone separately, the change should make BYOD plan comparisons more straightforward.
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