New Government-Mandated 9-1-1 Tax to be added to subscription

[Ck_PM]

Hi Community,

We’re here to let you know about an important change that may impact your monthly payment.

Starting July 31st 2025, you will see a government-mandated provincial 9-1-1 tax on your monthly bill. This tax supports local 9-1-1 emergency services and is mandated in Alberta, New Brunswick, Newfoundland and Labrador, Nova Scotia, Northwest Territories, Prince Edward Island, Quebec and Saskatchewan. 

Provincial governments in Ontario, British Columbia and Manitoba do not have this tax.

If you top up using vouchers, please ensure you include the additional amount when adding funds to your account to avoid any disruption to your service.

For more details, including the tax amount in your province and how this impacts your payment, please visit our Help Article.

—Public Mobile Team

[Khulse]

I’m in BC, so we don’t have this tax but instead get a “your $15 plan is going to be $18”. Not a tax just a pm feels like it fee?

[computergeek541]

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@parkerd33 wrote:

...Was this not being charged before?

I was under the impression that the 911 tax was a common thing amongst Alberta carriers by law here. 

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It wasn't being charged before by Public Mobile.  The fee did exist but Public Mobile had it previously included in the plan price.  I haven't seen anything that says carriers need to pass this fee onto customers.

[parkerd33]

...Was this not being charged before?

I was under the impression that the 911 tax was a common thing amongst Alberta carriers by law here. 

[danielj]

@hTideGnow did not intend to be that litteral.

But if I do hear any plans of my province introducing a verson I would possible become interested in reaching out to my MPP.

[danielj]

Saskatchewan sales tax is what 11% compared to BC is 12% is it not. $2.17 being the likely levy. So unless plan is under $19.73 might have a monetary difference. If it does necessarily have a material difference worth the change of area code (and phone number) is a different story. Especially the likely difficulty and possible other changes that might be required with Public Mobile. Might be best to send a private message to the PM customer care team to assist with any actual changes planned. 

[jay_jay3]

Tell Telus  to eat it, They have lots of money and tosses account balance out of whack.

[hTideGnow]

hi @hellogreen2008 the fees and E911 tax is based on phone number area code.  So, if you have a SK number, both tax and E911 fees will be based on SK

[hellogreen2008]

I used to live in Saskatchwan and purchased Public Mobile SIM card in Saskatchewan. But then I moved to BC and I'm living in BC now. Will Public Mobile still charge me the 9-1-1 tax on my monthly bill even I no longer live in SK anymore? Thanks.

[hTideGnow]

hi @danielj it is a provincial governments tax, so you need to check with your MPP.  For now it is a no and I don't hear any of those governments have plan to introduce that 

[danielj]

Will it be a matter of time that us in Ontario, British Columbia and Manitoba will be able to enjoy avoiding paying for this fee?

[klr4evr]

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@fixin1 wrote:And landline users don't have to pay this!!!

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I'm paying it on my landline.

[computergeek541]

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@Tkruse867 wrote:

Percentage of tax?

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There is no set percentage for this fee.  The fee is a fixed amount per service plan.

[Tkruse867]

Percentage of tax?

[hTideGnow]

hi @Sth it is not a telecom commission issue, it is an issue with your provincial government.  Some provinces allow $0 911 Fees but some refused to do so.  It is your provincial government to take the blame

[Sth]

CRTC has no power...

Now the Commission for Complaints for Telecom-television Services | CCTS and complaints filed there are binding and can return $$$ to clients.

[dougc]

Ahhhhhhh,  adding another tax to the growing # of reasons tah lv Alberta, and head-back to the home-province.      😉  

[tink123]

Right, but if they were eating the 54 cents before (because we DID have a fee), then why would they not continue to eat that portion? That IS a hike. 

[hTideGnow]

HI @tink123 

PM never charge anyone 911 Access Fees before.  So this is not a price hike notice.  This is a notice telling us starting July 31, 2025, PM will start charging 911 access fees. So, you have been paying $0 before and after July 31, PM will charge 97 cents on top of your current monthly bill

[tink123]

In my province, the 911 fee is going from 54 cents per month to 97 cents per month. Why are you adding a 97 cent charge and not the 43 cent difference?

Also, if there is a change in payments, does it automatically adjust the billing, or are we expected to do something to fix it?

[LinP]

Exactly!

[Tongerst1]

Why are you charging the 911 fee based on the phones area code?  I activated my phone in New Brunswick many years ago but now live in Nova Scotia.  The fee in NB is double the fee in NS.  The charge should be based on my postal code not my area code.  I would estimate that 20% of the people I know have phones with an area code that does not match the province where they live.  A quick change to you coding will fix this error.

[yukonrove]

This is a problem. They can’t be charging for something that they don’t have to pay for Yukon. Similar issue went to Supreme Court in 2015 and was overturned. 

[Asturias7]

I quote:

“Provincial governments in Ontario, British Columbia and Manitoba do not have this tax.”