Source: https://crtc.gc.ca/eng

Dear Philippe Gauvin,

Thank you for the letter from Bell Canada and its flanker brand Virgin Plus (collectively, Bell) dated 22 April 2025 informing the Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission (the Commission) of Bell’s intention to start selling locked cellphones. According to Bell, this practice is in response to an increase in crime at its points of sale.

The Commission acknowledges the importance of ensuring the safety and security of customers and employees at retail outlets. The Commission, however, considers that Bell has not demonstrated that the practice of locking cellphones for up to 60 days after purchase is a necessary and proportionate response in this case. Specifically, Bell has not demonstrated that this practice is effective, nor that it has exhausted alternative solutions that comply with the Wireless Code (the Code). The Commission is concerned that Bell has opted to disregard a key consumer protection outlined in the Code, which is not in the best interest of consumers.

To address these concerns and help protect consumers, this letter sets out the Commission’s determinations on Bell’s practice of locking cellphones for up to 60 days after purchase.

Background

As you know, the Code’s rules on device unlocking require service providers to provide cellphones to customers unlocked at or before the time of sale. This rule was created to contribute to a more dynamic marketplace to the benefit of Canadians, by making it easier for consumers to take advantage of competitive offers.

After the Commission was informed of Bell’s practice, Commission staff asked Bell, in a letter dated 9 May 2025, to provide additional information and to explain how Bell would ensure that it remained in compliance with the Code.

In response, Bell stated that the practice of providing locked cellphones complies with the Code, because the Code does not indicate a specific moment at which they must be unlocked. Bell indicated that locking cellphones is in the best interest of consumers and is necessary to address an increase in crime and financial loss experienced by the wireless industry. Should the Commission disagree with that position, Bell requested that the Commission issue a decision to temporarily allow Bell and other providers to maintain this practice and launch a proceeding on an expedited basis to consider changes to the Code.

Commission’s decision…..

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BCE Q4 2025 results and 2026 guidance call

Source: https://www.bce.ca

By integrating deep data expertise, this acquisition directly addresses the increasing demand from businesses and governments for advanced AI and analytics. It enhances Ateko’s comprehensive AI solutions, reinforcing its position as a national leader dedicated to developing a secure and prosperous digital future for Canada.

MONTRÉAL – Dec 3, 2025 – Ateko today announced it has acquired SDK Tek Services Ltd.(SDK), a highly respected Calgary-headquartered data engineering and analytics integrator. This acquisition supports Bell’s strategic priority to lead in enterprise with AI-powered solutions and contributes to the development of a sovereign Canadian AI ecosystem.

SDK’s proven ability to transform raw data into actionable intelligence complements Ateko’s expertise in AI-powered workflow automation and system integration. The addition of a talented team of AI and data specialists to Ateko significantly boosts its capabilities to help clients unlock the power of their data, embed AI into their operations and deliver measurable business outcomes while meeting stringent data security and privacy standards.

The acquisition bolsters Bell AI Fabric by strengthening Ateko’s position as Canada’s only full-stack sovereign AI platform and systems integrator. The expanded offering will accelerate the development and deployment of AI solutions at scale for leading enterprises and governments – a critical component to building a sovereign AI ecosystem.

SDK’s established talent base and market presence in Western Canada will build on and expand Ateko’s national footprint and fuel the growth of new service offerings for enterprise and government customers.

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Intimate Partner Violence (IPV) is an epidemic. Tell your provincial representative to immediately declare Intimate Partner Violence an Epidemic.

After decades of activism, the fight against intimate partner violence is gaining momentum and we need your support to continue moving this fight forward.

Declaring IPV an epidemic is important because it: 

• Highlights how widespread intimate partner violence is
• Addresses the health and social impacts including physical injuries, mental health issues, substance abuse, and even death
• Allows our healthcare systems and other organizations to dedicate more funding, research and social services to ending violence
• Increases public awareness
• Fights stigma
• Gives public services the mandate to build up prevention tools, not just crisis response

A  bill to declare IPV an epidemic was introduced in the Nova Scotia legislature on September 12, 2024 and, with the support of Unifor, it was passed immediately and unanimously.

New Brunswick passed a unanimous motion on June 5, 2025, two days after Unifor hosted an IPV Symposium with frontline service providers.

That same day, the Ontario NDP re-introduced legislation to declare IPV an epidemic — but your support is needed to move it through the legislative process.

In British Columbia We’ve joined a coalition calling the on BC government to declare Gender-Based Violence an epidemic. Sign the BC petition here.

All provinces can and must declare IPV an epidemic.

Please take a moment now to tell your provincial representative to declare intimate partner violence an epidemic!

TORONTO– Unifor is encouraged by new federal government support measures for the forestry and steel industries, both of which have been hard-hit by the ongoing U.S. trade war.

“Our forestry and steel communities have been pushed to the brink by the trade war. These new measures are a welcome step, but they must translate into immediate supports that stabilize jobs today while preparing our industries for the future,” said Unifor National President Lana Payne. “Building with Canadian lumber and steel is how we protect jobs, strengthen our economy, and push back against unfair U.S. trade tactics.”

Funding to expand the use of Canadian softwood lumber in housing, and prioritizing projects that can begin within 12 months, will sustain forestry jobs while also contributing to solutions to the affordable housing crisis.

The union welcomes the increase to the Work-Sharing replacement rate as an important start but calls for the measure to be extended to broader Employment Insurance reforms by increasing the income replacement rate to 75%, raising the ceiling on insurable earnings, and eliminating harsh disqualification rules.

Unifor expects the newly announced Canadian Forest Sector Transformation Task Force to include labour representation to advocate for worker-forward policies that protect good, unionized jobs and help grow the sector by seizing new opportunities.

“The creation of a forestry sector transformation task force and enhanced Work-Sharing income replacement are both measures that Unifor has long sought to support forestry workers across Quebec and Canada, from pulp mills to homebuilding,” said Unifor Quebec Director Daniel Cloutier. ”Unifor will keep pushing for every tool needed to defend good jobs and build a more sustainable forestry sector.”

Unifor supports the implementation of a Buy Canadian Policy but calls for a lower threshold to more effectively support jobs across multiple industries and reiterates the need to develop industrial strategies for all sectors under attack. The union also urges corporate Canada to step up and show real patriotism by investing in and supporting Canadian jobs.

The reduction of freight rates to move steel and lumber across the country will further strengthen domestic supply chains by making it more affordable to utilize rail and expand east-west trade. Canada must build a cost-effective transport system that also supports the workers who move our goods, affordability can never come at the expense of workers through suppression of wages or undermining safety.

In the steel sector, the union applauds added protections, including reduced tariff-rate quota levels, stronger border measures to prevent foreign steel dumping, and a global 25% tariff on imported derivative products, all essential to protecting downstream manufacturing jobs.

“Tightening quotas and enforcing tougher penalties are needed actions to make clear that our steel sector is not up for grabs,” said Payne. “Unifor members stand united in this fight. If the U.S. wants to keep escalating this trade war, then Canada must be prepared to respond just as forcefully to safeguard our jobs, our resources, and our industries.”