Telecom - Staff Letter addressed to Neighbourhood Connect and Bethlehem Housing and Support Services
Gatineau, 15 April 2026
Our reference: 8622-O108-202400704
BY EMAIL
Neighbourhood Connect
43 Church St. Suite 406 St. Catharine
Ontario, L2R 7E1
derek@nhconnect.ca
Bethlehem Housing and Support Services
111 Church Street, St. Catharines
Ontario, L2R 3C9
info@bethlehemhousing.ca
Subject: Follow up to Telecom Decision 2025-132 – Access to Bethlehem Housing and Support Services’ multi-dwelling units – Request for Information
On 6 June 2025, the Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission (the Commission) issued Telecom Decision CRTC 2025-132 (TD 2025-132), in response to an application filed by 2621159 Ontario Inc., doing business as Neighbourhood Connect (NHC), for non-discriminatory and timely access on reasonable terms and conditions to three multi-dwelling units (MDUs) operated by Bethlehem Housing and Support Services (Bethlehem). The premises in questions have been identified as 58 Welland Avenue, St Catharines, Ontario,111 Church Street, St Catharines, Ontario and 151 James Street, St Catharines, Ontario.
In TD 2025-132, the Commission directed Bethlehem and NHC to enter into good-faith negotiations for access to the MDUs and to submit progress reports on these negotiations, because it found that Bethlehem had denied NHC access to the MDUs on a timely basis. The Commission gave both parties 90 days for these negotiations and indicated that it would consider imposing additional regulatory measures if Bethlehem did not grant NHC access to the MDUs under reasonable terms and conditions by the end of the 90 days.
Following TD 2025-132, NHC and Bethlehem informed Commission staff that good-faith negotiations were taking place, but that delays occurred, preventing them from finalizing their agreement within the timeframe set by the decision. In addition, recent communications with Commission staff indicate that negotiations appear to be no longer progressing, and Bethlehem has not granted access to NHC.
Pursuant to section 37 of the Telecommunications Act (the Act), the Commission may require any person to submit information that is necessary for the administration of the Act. To assist the Commission’s assessment of the issues raised in TD 2025-132, and its enforcement of that decision, NHC and Bethlehem are required to provide a response to the following questions by 24 April 2024, serving their response on the other party by the same date.
- Provide a complete update regarding ongoing negotiations for a formal access agreement to the MDUs that have occurred since the issuance of TD 2025-132, including:
- details and any available evidence regarding NHC’s site visits and the revised agreement template; and
- your position on the issues that have impeded negotiations and NHC’s access to the MDUs.
- Since Bethlehem has not granted NHC access to the MDUs, comment on the possibility of the Commission imposing the incremental measures outlined in paragraph 39 of TD 2025-132.
As set out in section 39 of the Act, and in Procedures for filing confidential information and requesting its disclosure in Commission proceedings, Broadcasting and Telecom Information Bulletin CRTC 2010-961, 23 December 2010, persons may designate certain information as confidential. A detailed explanation on why the designated information is confidential and why its disclosure would not be in the public interest must be provided, including why the specific direct harm that would be likely to result from the disclosure would outweigh the public interest in disclosure. In addition to the confidential version, an abridged version of the document omitting only the confidential information must be filed or reasons why an abridged version cannot be filed must be provided.
Sincerely,
Original signed by
Suneil Kanjeekal
Director, Dispute Resolution and Regulatory Implementation
Telecommunications Sector, CRTC
c.c.:
Lori Beech, Bethlehem Housing, lbeech@bethlehemhousing.ca
Philippe Gauvin, Bell Canada, bell.regulatory@bell.ca
Toby Harper-Merrett, Cogeco Connexion Inc., toby.harper-merrett@cogeco.com
Simon Lapointe, CRTC, simon.lapointe@crtc.gc.ca
- Date modified: