Internet service subsidy in the Far North – Responses to online survey
Download the English PDF version (PDF, 158 kb) – Survey Participation: 96
Download the French PDF version (PDF, 58 kb) – Survey Participation: 1
The data presented in this report is auto-generated by Granicus, a public engagement software contracted by the Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission. The data contained on this page covers 97 submissions made to an online survey (1 participation to the French survey and 96 to the English survey). The survey was made available on the CRTC Conversations website from January 16, 2025, to February 18, 2025. The HTML report below combined the French survey participation and the English survey participation.
Survey questions
- Q1: Do you live in Nunavut, the Yukon, the Northwest Territories, northern British Columbia, or northern Alberta?
- Q2: Do you identify as Indigenous?
- Q3: The difference between the price of Internet in the Far North and elsewhere in Canada is $72 per month on average. Should the amount of this discount be based on this difference?
- Q4: What percentage of the difference should the discount cover?
- Q5: What should be the amount of the monthly discount? Please explain your suggestion.
- Q6: Do you think small businesses and community institutions should also receive the discount?
- Q7: Why should they also receive the discount?
- Q8: Why should they not receive the discount?
- Q9: Do you work at or operate a community institution or do you work at or own a small business?
- Q10: What is its monthly Internet bill? If there is more than one Internet bill, please specify.
- Q11: Would a monthly discount in the amount of $72 or less have a significant impact on your small business or community institution?
- Q12: Is there anything else you would like to add?
Survey Results
Question 1: Do you live in Nunavut, the Yukon, the Northwest Territories, northern British Columbia, or northern Alberta?
Figure 1
Question 2: Do you identify as Indigenous?
Figure 2
Question 3: The difference between the price of Internet in the Far North and elsewhere in Canada is $72 per month on average. Should the amount of this discount be based on this difference?
Figure 3
Question 4: What percentage of the difference should the discount cover?
The survey was conducted online using usernames chosen by participants. These usernames have been removed from the results to protect participants' privacy. The responses are presented in their original format: No corrections or translations were made.
| Participant ID | Response |
|---|---|
| Participant 01 | 100 |
| Participant 02 | bring it closer to the national average. we have been over paying for years. |
| Participant 03 | 100% |
| Participant 05 | 100% |
| Participant 06 | 100% |
| Participant 07 | $100 |
| Participant 08 | 100 |
| Participant 09 | 100% |
| Participant 10 | 50% |
| Participant 11 | 100 |
| Participant 12 | at least 50% |
| Participant 13 | The difference |
| Participant 14 | all |
| Participant 15 | All of it, the price of just internet alone is astronomical. |
| Participant 16 | 100 |
| Participant 17 | 100% |
| Participant 18 | 100% |
| Participant 19 | 90 |
| Participant 20 | 25-40 |
| Participant 22 | 100 |
| Participant 23 | All |
| Participant 24 | 100% |
| Participant 25 | 100% of the difference |
| Participant 27 | 100% |
| Participant 28 | 100 |
| Participant 29 | 100 |
| Participant 30 | 50% |
| Participant 32 | All of it |
| Participant 34 | 80 to 100% |
| Participant 35 | 90% |
| Participant 36 | ? |
| Participant 37 | 50 |
| Participant 38 | 125% |
| Participant 39 | 50% |
| Participant 40 | 100 |
| Participant 41 | 50% or we should have more options of service other than Starlink. Northern BC should pay same as rest of BC. |
| Participant 42 | 75% |
| Participant 43 | 75 |
| Participant 44 | 100% |
| Participant 45 | 50 |
| Participant 46 | I lived on Vancouver island unlimited for under $60. I now have starlink and pay $179 because it is the most reliable internet. Northwestel is horrible to deal with. |
| Participant 47 | 100% |
| Participant 48 | 100% |
| Participant 49 | 100% |
| Participant 50 | All of the difference. $72 is a lot for people where we are considering the price of living |
| Participant 51 | 50% I'm paying higher here in Fort Nelson than I did in Vernon |
| Participant 52 | 100 |
| Participant 53 | At least $50% |
| Participant 55 | 100% |
| Participant 56 | 100% |
| Participant 57 | 100 |
| Participant 58 | 75 |
| Participant 59 | 100% |
| Participant 60 | 50 percent |
| Participant 61 | 100% |
| Participant 64 | 100 |
| Participant 65 | 75-100% |
| Participant 66 | All of it, to make it somewhere near the price in a major Center |
| Participant 67 | 40 |
| Participant 68 | 100 |
| Participant 69 | 50 |
| Participant 71 | Should be about 25-30%. |
| Participant 72 | 100 |
| Participant 73 | 100% |
| Participant 74 | 30% - 60% |
| Participant 75 | 70-80% |
| Participant 77 | 100% |
| Participant 78 | %100 |
| Participant 79 | 50% |
| Participant 80 | 100 |
| Participant 81 | 100 |
| Participant 82 | 70% |
| Participant 83 | All |
| Participant 85 | 75% |
| Participant 86 | 20 |
| Participant 87 | 100% of the difference |
| Participant 88 | 55 |
| Participant 89 | 100% |
| Participant 90 | 100 |
| Participant 91 | 100% |
| Participant 92 | 100% |
| Participant 93 | 100 percent |
| Participant 95 | I have no preference, thank you. |
| Participant 96 | 45% |
| Participant 97 | I think any discount the communities above hwy 16 would get would be appreciated. |
Question 5: What should be the amount of the monthly discount? Please explain your suggestion.
The survey was conducted online using usernames chosen by participants. These usernames have been removed from the results to protect participants' privacy. The responses are presented in their original format: No corrections or translations were made.
| Participant ID | Response |
|---|---|
| Participant 21 | I pay $157 per month for reliable internet. Sourthern regions I can get phone/tv/internet for $60 per month |
| Participant 31 | It should be simile to the closest city. Which is Fort Saint John BC. We pay $400 a month for cable & internet. That is absurd. |
| Participant 54 | We should match the owest cost for the lower mainland |
| Participant 62 | Should be based on difference on northeast bc and Vancouver $179 vs $29 |
| Participant 76 | Depending on location and internet provider and current cost of internet the price should be lowered to a amount that is similar to bigger city’s down south |
| Participant 84 | It did be based off how much the payments are as the are different levels of payment for each subscriber. Such as: unlimited internet is more money, vs pay by gb. So the discount should be based off what the customer is paying. |
| Participant 94 | A tiered subsidy model would be more equitable and sustainable. For low income households (this income threshold would have to be determined by the CRTC) in the Far North, offer a 100% subsidy for the basic/standard internet packages available in their community. This may require some level of partnership with internet providers in the Far North. The reasoning here is that there are probably some households that still will not be able to afford internet with a $72 subsidy so by covering the cost in full for this segment of the population will lead to helping more people in dire need have access to internet services sufficient for essential activities such as browsing the internet, email etc. and can help to support school and work of all low-income residents. For households above the pre-established income threshold, they will receive a flat payout that is economically feasible. This payout will have to be calculated based on the population size of the target area while also considering the estimated support needed for the low income groups as detailed above and the overall program budget. This payout will be lower than the average difference of $72 which has the added benefit of subsidizing premium internet packages to a lesser degree. |
Question 6: Do you think small businesses and community institutions should also receive the discount?
Figure 4
Question 7: Why should they also receive the discount?
The survey was conducted online using usernames chosen by participants. These usernames have been removed from the results to protect participants' privacy. The responses are presented in their original format: No corrections or translations were made.
| Participant ID | Response |
|---|---|
| Participant 01 | Small businesses, in particular in small Northern communities pass on costs to the consumers they serve and a subsidy for small businesses headquartered in the North should be applied to improve affordability. Internet is a mandatory service for small businesses and the cost reduction will improve the lives of all residences. |
| Participant 02 | they can spend the money on other items. more money for education. |
| Participant 04 | High cost |
| Participant 06 | Non profits should. They struggle to meet the needs of people the serve with very little supports |
| Participant 07 | Cost of internet is extremely excessive for all plans in the North. Also charged overage rates equivalent to a mortgage payment. |
| Participant 08 | The cost is unfair and has a negative impact on the ability of small businesses and organizations to remain in operation |
| Participant 09 | They live here to |
| Participant 10 | To be fair with everyone |
| Participant 11 | For fairness |
| Participant 13 | Its an additional cost to them In an akready more expensive situation |
| Participant 16 | They provide the economy. |
| Participant 17 | Its hard to keep a business sin the north and costs are very high too |
| Participant 18 | Small business ventures struggle the most to compete with large chain stores, they deserve to be provide the best opportunity to compete with big store pricing. |
| Participant 19 | It’s expensive |
| Participant 20 | Because they rely on the internet to run their business in town and out of town |
| Participant 21 | They're are based in the north also |
| Participant 22 | Because businesses also don't make as much money in the north compared to down south |
| Participant 23 | Providing jobs in the north they should qualify for at least 50% rate discount |
| Participant 24 | Everyone needs access to affordable internet even those in small businesses or a part of the community. |
| Participant 25 | I don't think it's fair that it should be only for certain people. Everyone in the far north should be eligible for a discount. |
| Participant 26 | Library etc. Will benefit the kids |
| Participant 27 | Their cost to operate is expensy |
| Participant 28 | To support local economy |
| Participant 29 | To even the playing field of the cost of business so they could lower their hourly rate to get more work |
| Participant 31 | Because internet is so expensive in the north. We all deserve the discount. |
| Participant 33 | Small business and community institutions are funded by rural residents and are even more severely impacted by high rates and limited options |
| Participant 34 | Small business are suffering from high costs and must make their prices higher which deters folks who are struggling financially to shop local and buy from the smaller businesses. |
| Participant 35 | The high cost of everything makes it hard to stay in business, most small businesses have a tight margin of profit and could use the help. |
| Participant 36 | Cost is high to have small business, institutions serve the public |
| Participant 37 | 25 |
| Participant 38 | As the west subsides the east, the south should subsidize the north. We should actually pay less for a simple service as we don’t have banks, govt offices, brick and mortar buildings to offset the need for internet services |
| Participant 39 | They live here too |
| Participant 40 | They are in the same service area that is being monopolized by one hardwire internet provider in the north, that has been gouging customers for decades. |
| Participant 41 | Small bussness can't always access internet services and have to use e transfer for house cleaners to farmers markets. Just because we all don't work for large companies does NOT mean we should pay more. |
| Participant 42 | We all live in the far North & to post what the stores have for advertising. You need the internet. Small businesses are usually Mom & Pop's |
| Participant 43 | Because eventually the cost of doing business ends at the consumers (us) |
| Participant 45 | Everyone, businesses included struggle with prices of everything a little break would make us feel like someone cared. Anything would help |
| Participant 46 | Small businesses are hurting all the time |
| Participant 47 | All communication should be free… free speech |
| Participant 49 | It’s hard to buy local and support businesses when they have to absorb shipping costs etc. It’s not always in the budget to shop local when you can get it cheaper online. |
| Participant 50 | Because our small businesses are struggling just as much to stay afloat |
| Participant 51 | Without small business our community would suffer |
| Participant 52 | I don’t think anyone should pay the price we pay for internet, that includes small businesses and community institutions. |
| Participant 53 | I believe they should receive a discount but not necessarily as much as residential costumers. Its expensive enough for internet services in the north |
| Participant 54 | Because they will have extra for services provided or cost lowering for consumers |
| Participant 55 | Most school and students use internet service on a daily basis, Monday - Friday. |
| Participant 57 | They are paying more also |
| Participant 58 | The cost that small businesses and institutions hey is ultimately reflected in the cost of the products which they sell to Consumers. If their costs were lower perhaps they could then lower their costs slightly on the products that they sell. |
| Participant 59 | They are also living working and providing jobs in the north |
| Participant 60 | same reason we would get it ..far north costs |
| Participant 61 | Because everybody from the south going north, except internet service. Why should we pay more to provide to them? Also, business is not possible anymore without internet, in some places the only way to communicate and everything else is already far more expensive in the north and small businesses are struggling. |
| Participant 62 | Only fair |
| Participant 63 | It costs more to do business in the North |
| Participant 64 | So it is the same throughout all of the community. |
| Participant 65 | Perhaps a little lower % |
| Participant 66 | Bolster opportunities in small northern communities |
| Participant 67 | Business struggling at northern BC. Towns dying and loosing costumers |
| Participant 68 | They have hire costs therefore having to pass it on to customers and clients |
| Participant 69 | They have more expenses too. Living and doing business in the Far North is just more expensive |
| Participant 71 | They are loosing money the same as the residents. The companys could run longer. Possibly saving it from closing. |
| Participant 72 | They love here too and need the internet for their jobs. They shouldn't have to pay more just because they are a business. |
| Participant 73 | They need internet just as much as the rest of us |
| Participant 74 | Because internet is expensive for business packages |
| Participant 75 | Offer a service to the community |
| Participant 76 | Internet should be easy to access and cheap to get |
| Participant 77 | Increased cost of doin business in the north is passed onto customers who already pay too much to live in the north. |
| Participant 78 | Becuase they also live and work in the far north and deserve the same |
| Participant 79 | So people can continue to use there internet for job searching and other important things if they don't have access to internet at home |
| Participant 80 | People in the north need businesses in the north. Rising costs are a contributing factor in businesses closing or prices rising. |
| Participant 81 | They get the same to run businesses but everything costs more |
| Participant 82 | They are the backbone of communities. |
| Participant 83 | It is hard enough to run abusiness her so any subsidy would help |
| Participant 84 | Because they have to also pay for Internet and often gives out the password for users/customers. Here in the North we are so in the same boat. |
| Participant 85 | Because Rates in the North are still higher than elsewhere |
| Participant 87 | Cost of living in the north is unmanagable |
| Participant 89 | Offering a discounted internet will address the digital divide and offer a level playing field with competing businesses in southern Canada. |
| Participant 90 | They provide services and supports to community at a fraction of the cost already. -they are the backbones of the community and are already working with razor thin margins |
| Participant 91 | We should be building up our northern parts of the country not punishing the small businesses doing so by having their cost of operations unfairly high. |
| Participant 93 | Small businesses have been greatly affected by the higher cost of everything in the north, and they should be included. |
| Participant 94 | I think they should also receive the discount but it depends on the budget. If their inclusion does not affect residential support then supporting small businesses can help to make them more competitive and may stimulate economic growth in the local communities. |
| Participant 95 | Non-profit or small business should receive a discount, due to high cost of everything else. Internet is often slow in most places, unless if you pay a lot of money for a faster service. I am not fund of government offices receiving discounts. They get enough discounts already. Share the pocket of money to less unfortunate. |
| Participant 96 | Elles sont là pour le bien de la communauté. |
| Participant 97 | non profit groups do not have the memberships any longer to be able to afford extras. I think any help would be appreciated |
Question 8: Why should they not receive the discount?
The survey was conducted online using usernames chosen by participants. These usernames have been removed from the results to protect participants' privacy. The responses are presented in their original format: No corrections or translations were made.
| Participant ID | Response |
|---|---|
| Participant 03 | These are either profit generating institutions or institutions funded by government grants, they already receive other types of subsidies. |
| Participant 15 | It's a write off for businesses. Community help centres such as thrift stores or perhaps schooling or social help centre's should get the discount. |
| Participant 30 | Because businesses already get a discount on internet |
| Participant 32 | The small business should receive the discount, they have to have internet to make their business run. Small business can barely afford to be open right now because of the cost of shipping, rent and utilities! The community institutions can afford the bill. |
| Participant 48 | This is a tax write off for them |
| Participant 86 | Cost of doing business |
Question 9: Do you work at or operate a community institution or do you work at or own a small business?
Figure 5
Question 10: What is its monthly Internet bill? If there is more than one Internet bill, please specify.
The survey was conducted online using usernames chosen by participants. These usernames have been removed from the results to protect participants' privacy. The responses are presented in their original format: No corrections or translations were made.
| Participant ID | Response |
|---|---|
| Participant 06 | 160 |
| Participant 07 | Can be as low as 250/month(if away and not used) or have had it as high as 1500/month on overage/data fees. Northwestel price gouging is insane! |
| Participant 08 | 180 |
| Participant 09 | 160.00 home 400.to500.00 work |
| Participant 13 | 156$ |
| Participant 21 | 157 & 180 small business |
| Participant 22 | $200 for 1 internet bill |
| Participant 24 | No internet bill because it is too expensive for me to get, i currently use hotspot from my phone. |
| Participant 28 | $160 |
| Participant 29 | $140 a month for the office and $170 a month for mobile internet |
| Participant 33 | 170 |
| Participant 35 | $95/month for 200gb which is barely enough. |
| Participant 39 | Not sure |
| Participant 41 | Non I'm forced to use e transfers. As internet is nit always available in remote parts of Northern BC |
| Participant 44 | $185 |
| Participant 52 | I don’t have access to that information. |
| Participant 55 | I work at a First Nation school. I don’t know the cost |
| Participant 58 | 189.00 |
| Participant 59 | $156.80 |
| Participant 61 | $300 |
| Participant 65 | 156.00 |
| Participant 68 | Our monthly bill is approx 300 permonth |
| Participant 69 | 0 |
| Participant 73 | 225 |
| Participant 83 | $165 |
| Participant 89 | Business - $420.79 |
| Participant 90 | We share internet with another not for profit |
| Participant 93 | Not sure |
Question 11: Would a monthly discount in the amount of $72 or less have a significant impact on your small business or community institution?
Figure 6
Question 12: Is there anything else you would like to add?
The survey was conducted online using usernames chosen by participants. These usernames have been removed from the results to protect participants' privacy. The responses are presented in their original format: No corrections or translations were made.
| Participant ID | Response |
|---|---|
| Participant 02 | please make this subsidy worth the time and effort you are put into. a $10 credit isn't going to make much of a difference. Saving like $50 a month or $600 a year will make a great difference on a family of 4. |
| Participant 03 | Internet affordability is a major concern as someone who recently moved to the far north |
| Participant 09 | We have been ripped off for years |
| Participant 10 | |
| Participant 11 | No |
| Participant 15 | A substantial discount is warranted and deserved for us in the north. We've paid well over normal internet service costs to the south, and while there is no doubt substantial costs to bring us internet and cable, the prices MUST come down. We pay enough to live in the north already, I feel that this is just another excessive amount to pay for anything. |
| Participant 16 | It's ridiculous what we all pay. It ups the price for everything, everywhere, despite living in the Alaska highway. Ridiculous. |
| Participant 17 | We have crappier internet (no fiber optics and speeds do not correspond to what you'repaying for), sometimes data limits and very high costs for a slower less reliable internet. |
| Participant 20 | That we need to have stable internet and it be able to support the needs of our communities. Living in the far north we rely on internet for pretty much everything we do |
| Participant 23 | No |
| Participant 25 | No |
| Participant 31 | Please give us a discount the actually makes a difference. |
| Participant 32 | |
| Participant 33 | Northwestel’s business rates are exorbitant |
| Participant 36 | Non-profits such as thrift stores, community centers would really benefit |
| Participant 38 | the north should pay less than the south for an essential service to the north |
| Participant 40 | This subsidy would greatly assist Canadians in northern communities, allowing them to maintain basic internet service that is readily available in major cities across Canada for a huge discounted price. |
| Participant 41 | The north needs more internet options. In Fort Nelson we only have Starlink. I'm forced to use e transfer. Some houses are off grid or too remote. |
| Participant 42 | I have been paying North West tel. For 21 years. It's time they gave back. |
| Participant 47 | No |
| Participant 52 | Every penny counts. |
| Participant 57 | As a senior on a fixed income it’s hard to pay the high prices for internet |
| Participant 58 | Having lived farther south than Northeastern British Columbia, I am roughly playing twice the amount if not 1.2 times the amount that I would have normally paid for internet elsewhere. I was shocked when I first moved here at the cost of Internet. |
| Participant 59 | The cost of phone bills in the north should also be adjusted as there is less providers and minimal coverage |
| Participant 60 | ASAP get this started |
| Participant 65 | Not at this time |
| Participant 67 | Mobile provider need to lower price too. Everything expensive here |
| Participant 68 | It would be a nice break where everything is so expensive here |
| Participant 71 | We have been getting ripped off for to long and no one cares! |
| Participant 73 | This should be eligible to all. Even people with starlink. We are bound to Northwestel or starlink in our community. |
| Participant 75 | When will we see this discount |
| Participant 82 | Please pass this asap. |
| Participant 84 | Small businesses are the heart of most northern communities. If you make them pay more because they have an income then it's life saying your small business has to deal with it and still provide the same quality of service. No one should have to just deal with it like that. |
| Participant 86 | No |
| Participant 92 | Support for new products (EvoPro); we had to install it & figure it out ourselves We shouldn’t have to call for outage credits, most customers especially Elders, miss out We don’t have local cable techs, they have to fly in at their convenience |
| Participant 94 | N/A |
| Participant 95 | Our main office is located in Igloolik, Nunavut. When I travel up north and get to Igloolik, I do work in a small non-profit organization office. For a short term basis, I'm currently working from home in Saskatoon, to meet my family's needs. Long term goal is to move back to Nunavut. |
| Participant 96 | C'est épouventable qu'ils payent autant plus cher par mois que le reste du canada. |
| Participant 97 | I was not able to get a complete list of communities but my area of concern is the small communities along hwy 37 where there access to anything is limited and they pay higher costs. I got a list of some of the communities from Atlin down to iskut but there are other communities along that hwy that need it also. Stewart, Kitwanga, Gitayow, etc. |
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