The CRTC fee ban starts today
As of June 12, 2026, Canadian cellphone and internet providers are no longer allowed to charge certain extra fees when customers activate, change, or cancel eligible plans.
The change comes from Telecom Regulatory Policy CRTC 2026-43, which updated the Wireless Code and Internet Code. The CRTC announced the decision on March 12, 2026, and gave providers until June 12, 2026 to implement the changes.
For customers, today is the day those code changes take effect.
What fees are banned today?
The CRTC added a new definition for an activation or modification fee. Under the updated rules, providers cannot charge a fee that is tied to activating a new plan or changing an existing plan.
For cellphone customers, this applies to individual and small business mobile wireless customers. For internet customers, it applies to individual and small business fixed internet customers.
In practical terms, the rule targets fees such as:
- activation fees
- connection fees
- setup fees tied to starting a retail plan
- plan-change fees
- modification fees
- administrative fees whose purpose is to discourage changing or cancelling a plan
The exact fee name can vary by provider. The important point is what the fee is for. If the charge is mainly connected to activating, changing, or cancelling an eligible plan, it may be covered by the new rule.
What changes for cellphone customers?
For cellphone customers, the biggest change is that switching plans or carriers should involve fewer extra charges.
If you bring your own phone, switch to a new carrier, or move to a different plan with your current carrier, the provider should not add a separate activation or modification fee just because you are starting or changing service.
The CRTC also updated the Wireless Code so that when there is no subsidized device included in the contract, the provider must not charge an early cancellation fee.
This is especially relevant for:
- BYOD customers
- month-to-month customers
- customers using an unlocked phone
- customers switching because a better plan is available
- small businesses managing several cellphone lines
If you still owe money on a financed or subsidized phone, that is different from a plan-change fee. The remaining device balance can still apply.
What changes for internet customers?
The Internet Code also changes today. Internet providers cannot charge activation or modification fees covered by the new definition.
This can help customers who are changing internet plans, moving to a different speed tier, or switching providers.
The CRTC also updated the Internet Code so early cancellation fees are not allowed when there is no subsidized device included in the contract. For internet service, this can apply when there is no subsidized modem, router, or other device tied to the agreement.
What can still cost money?
The fee ban does not remove every possible charge.
You may still need to pay:
- the remaining balance on a financed or subsidized phone
- the remaining balance on subsidized equipment
- regular monthly service charges up to the cancellation or transfer date
- usage charges not included in your plan
- taxes
- optional products or services you agreed to buy
- reasonable fees related to physical installation for internet service
For cellphone customers, the most common remaining cost is likely to be a device balance. If you bought a phone on financing, device return, leasing, or subsidy terms, ask the provider for the exact amount still owing before switching.
What to check before switching today
If you plan to switch today or soon, check the account details before making the change.
Start with these items:
- Device balance: Ask whether any phone, modem, router, or other device balance remains.
- Contract type: Confirm whether the account is month-to-month, prepaid, postpaid, fixed-term, or tied to financing.
- Final bill timing: Ask how the final bill will be calculated.
- Number transfer: For cellphone service, do not cancel first if you want to keep your phone number.
- Plan terms: Check whether discounts expire, require autopay, or depend on a bundle.
- Fee description: If a fee appears, ask whether it is an activation, modification, or cancellation fee under the updated code.
For cellphone number transfers, start the port with the new provider. The old account normally closes when the number transfer completes.
What if a provider still quotes a fee?
If a provider quotes a fee today, ask what the fee is for. The fee name may not tell the full story.
Useful questions include:
- Is this fee connected to activating my plan?
- Is this fee connected to changing my plan?
- Is this fee connected to cancelling my plan?
- Is this a remaining device or equipment balance?
- Is this an optional product or service?
- Is this a physical installation charge?
- Can you show where this charge appears in my service agreement?
If the answer is unclear, ask the provider to review the fee before you agree to the plan change or cancellation.
What this means for BYOD plans
The rule makes BYOD plan comparisons more straightforward. If you already own your phone, there should be fewer one-time fees getting in the way of switching to a better plan.
That does not mean every plan is better. Monthly price, network coverage, data amount, roaming, speed caps, autopay conditions, and discount expiry dates still need to be compared.
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For people using an unlocked phone, the fee ban makes it easier to shop based on the plan itself rather than the cost of switching.
What this means for families and small businesses
The change can be more noticeable when several lines are involved. A single activation or plan-change fee may be annoying. Several fees across a family account or small business account can be much larger.
Starting today, customers managing multiple cellphone lines or internet services should review each quoted fee before accepting changes.
For small businesses, it can also be useful to keep written confirmation from the provider when moving several lines at once. Save the quote, service agreement, chat transcript, or email confirmation.
What changed before today?
The CRTC decision was released on March 12, 2026. The rules did not fully take effect that day. The CRTC gave providers until June 12, 2026 to update their systems and implement the code changes.
That implementation window is now over. Today is the effective date.
Quick answer
Starting today, June 12, 2026, Canadian cellphone and internet providers cannot charge certain extra fees to activate, change, or cancel eligible plans.
The fee ban covers activation and modification fees, and it also limits early cancellation fees when there is no subsidized device or equipment involved.
Remaining device balances, subsidized equipment balances, regular monthly charges, taxes, optional services, usage charges, and reasonable physical installation fees can still apply.
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