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

[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.”

[yukonrove]

Public Mobile 911:

There is a recent tech and billing discrepancy that several of my customers brought to my attention today. I also received this message.

Public Mobile here with an important update.

The provincial government mandates a monthly tax to support local 9-1-1 emergency services. Starting July 31, 2025, you will see a Northwest Territories provincial 9-1-1 tax of $3.00/month on your bill.

For more information on the 9-1-1 tax, please visit our Get Help page:

https://www.publicmobile.ca/en/get-help/articles/911services

NWT has a charge of $3 a month

Yukon 911 is .32¢ per month, not $3

They can’t implement a $3 charge to people living in the Yukon. Just because we have the same area code as the North West Territories.

Related articles:

In Yukon, the 911 emergency service fee is $0.32 per month according to the Yukon News.

https://www.yukon-news.com/news/yukon-moves-towards-territory-wide-911-6983409

Bell Mobility rebuffed in northern 911 challenge, again

https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/north/bell-mobility-rebuffed-in-northern-911-challenge-again-1.315484...

Bell loses class-action case over 911 fees in North

https://www.theglobeandmail.com/report-on-business/industry-news/the-law-page/bell-loses-class-actio...

Yukon is not listed in some of the provincial breakdowns of 911 costs, which means some customers may be paying the fee for Northwest territories.

Public mobile users can do two things.

1. Create a support ticket if you are a public mobile user.

2.  Contact the CRTC and file a complaint

Users of other services such as Koodo or Telus should also check their upcoming bills

[computergeek541]

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@fixin1 wrote:

@Andy1234567890 - I guess it is by Area code (i.e. 867), not CO code (Middle 3 digits in Number). I assume Nunavut users will also be paying NWT fee and YT also.

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Public Mobile doesn't have phone numbers for anywhere in Nunavut. The taxes and fees will be based on the province or territory that the phone number is assigned to, whatever that happens to be.

[fixin1]

@Andy1234567890 - I guess it is by Area code (i.e. 867), not CO code (Middle 3 digits in Number). I assume Nunavut users will also be paying NWT fee and YT also.

[Andy1234567890]

I live in the Yukon, which does NOT have this tax at all. I have never been to NWT. I got a text saying I'll be charged this tax. After multiple chats with support it sounds like I have to check my statements and request a refund for this error that PM made.

[LinP]

Thanks for the clarification. Don’t like it, but appreciate it!

[colleeno]

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@LinP wrote:

So if I’m in BC I should not be taxed for this, right?

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The tax is based on the area code of your phone number, not where you live. For example, if you live in BC but your phone number has an area code from one of the affected provinces, you will have to pay the tax. 

[LinP]

So if I’m in BC I should not be taxed for this, right?

[fixin1]

@Chalupa_Batman - I think the 911 fee is a bit obnoxious to say the least. In Alberta, there is around 4.5 million wireless subscribers every month with an Alberta area code which the province gets $4,275,000 just from this fee. And landline users don't have to pay this!!! Especially if you have multiple lines. Property tax increase of $11.40 is fine.

I would've accepted if the fee was at $0.50 from $0.45 but I know that it may or may not get put towards actual 911 call centers (First Responders, etc.)

[Chalupa_Batman]

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@hTideGnow wrote:

thanks for the details @Ck_PM 

it is sad that carrier no longer included the 911 access fees, but it looks like just in industry trend.

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I agree. This tax should be part of your civic property taxes, not your cellphone bill. Furthermore, if you had a mobile phone without a carrier plan on it, you can call 911 at no charge. I understand the purpose of the tax and I agree with it, however, your cellphone bill is not the right place for it. I think folks in the affected provinces need to argue strenuously with their Provincial leaders this is not the right avenue to charge this tax and it should be removed and added to the proper avenue. 

[hTideGnow]

thanks for the details @Ck_PM 

it is sad that carrier no longer included the 911 access fees, but it looks like just in industry trend.