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Background
In June 2009, the government of Québec adopted a new regulation stipulating that all telephone service subscribers (wireline and wireless) would fund 911 emergency call centres through a municipal tax. Set at $0.40/month/customer (wireline and wireless), this tax will come into effect on December 1, 2009. Telephone service providers will therefore collect the tax and then pay it out to Revenu Québec. Please note that the tax will be charged to all wireless customers but only to wireline customers in municipalities in which the 911 emergency service is available.
Questions and answers
Why is the Québec government imposing a municipal tax for the 911 service?
The government of Québec wants all telephone subscribers (wireline and wireless) who have access to the 911 service to help support the 911 emergency call centres like the one in Rouyn-Noranda and elsewhere.
Does this new tax apply only in Québec?
Yes. The tax is an initiative of the Québec government and only applies to Québec subscribers.
When will customers have to start paying this new tax?
The new tax comes into effect on December 1, 2009.
Will Télébec keep the $0.40?
No. Télébec must collect the tax on behalf of the Québec government. The $0.40 (forty cents) covers only the 911 tax. Of this amount, Télébec will keep $0.04 (four cents) to offset its administrative fees. The remaining $0.36 (thirty-six cents) will be sent to Revenu Québec, which will redistribute the sums to fund 911 emergency call centres across the province.
Will all telephone service providers collect this new 911 tax?
Yes. All wireline and wireless telephone service providers without exception must collect this tax beginning December 1, 2009.
For WIRELINE customers only
Télébec already collects $0.47 (forty-seven cents) for municipal 911 fees from most wireline customers. Will the new tax be added to the $0.47?
No. The current amount of $0.47 that is collected to cover municipal 911 fees will be replaced by the new tax ($0.40).
What does the municipal 911 fee of $0.47 that Télébec currently collects go toward?
The fee serves the same purpose as the new municipal tax. At the request of municipal authorities, Télébec agreed to collect an amount of $0.47/month/customer to cover 911 emergency call centre administrative and management fees. The municipal 911 fee will be replaced by the new 911 municipal tax of $0.40/month.
The only difference is that the municipal tax will now be charged to wireline and wireless customers, which was not the case before.
How will Télébec indicate this new tax on customers’ monthly bills?
Beginning December 1, 2009, a new line will appear on customers’ monthly bills:
Québec municipal 911 tax…………………….$0.40
How will Télébec advise customers of this new municipal tax for 911 emergency call centres?
Télébec will print the following message on all customers’ bills as of the December 1, 2009 billing cycle:
In Québec on December 1, 2009, a new municipal tax to fund 911 emergency centres will come into effect. Set at $0.40/month by the Québec government, the tax will be collected by telephone service providers and paid out to Revenu Québec. This tax replaces the municipal 911 fee of $0.47 previously collected by Télébec. For more information, visit www.agence911.org or call 1 888 653-3911.
The government of Québec has also put a new toll-free number (1 888 653-3911) and website (www.agence911.org) into service in order to provide Québecers with more information.
Will all Télébec customers be billed for this new municipal tax?
ALL Télébec customers will be charged $0.40/month, with the exception of Aboriginal communities and customers who live in districts in which the 911 service is not available.
For WIRELESS customers only
Will all Télébec Mobility customers be billed for this new municipal tax?
Yes. All Mobility customers, without exception, will be billed for this new municipal 911 emergency service tax. However, the taxes on the $0.40 will not be charged to customers who are exempt from paying them (e.g. Aboriginal communities).
Will customers who live in municipalities without access to the 911 emergency service (e.g. certain Aboriginal communities) be billed for this new monthly tax?
Yes. All Mobility customers, even if they live in a municipality with no 911 service, will be billed. Wireless customers are mobile and can therefore access the 911 service across the territory.
Télébec already collects $0.75 (seventy-five cents) for the 911 service from wireless customers. Will the new tax be added to this amount?
Yes. It is important to understand that the $0.40 for the 911 service is paid out to the government of Québec. Télébec only keeps $0.04 to cover administrative fees.
Then why has Télébec been collecting $0.75 for the 911 emergency service from Mobility customers?
The $0.75 that is currently collected for the 911 service covers the maintenance and network updating fees to ensure the proper operation of the 911 service.
How will Télébec advise customers of this new tax?
Beginning December 1, 2009, a new line will appear on customers’ monthly bills:
Québec municipal 911 tax…………………….$0.40
How will Télébec communicate with customers to advise them of the new 911 municipal tax?
Télébec will send two messages to all customers with their monthly bills. The first will appear on bills for the November 1, 2009 billing cycle and the second on bills for the December 1, 2009 cycle.
November Bill message
As of Dec 1st, 2009, the Quebec government will charge clients with a Quebec area code a $0.40 tax/per month to help fund 911 emergency centers. This will be in addition to the $0.75 911 fee that is charged for wireless access to 911. This new tax will appear on your next bill as “Quebec municipal 911 tax”. For more info, visit the agence911.org or call 1 888 653-3911.
December Bill message
As of Dec 1st, 2009, the Québec government will charge clients with a Québec area code a $0.40 tax/per month to help fund 911 emergency centers. This new tax will appear on your next bill as “Québec municipal 911 tax”. You may notice two charges covering both Dec and Jan. because going forward you will be billed one month in advance. For more info, visit agence911.org or call 1 888 653-3911.
The government of Québec has also put a new toll-free number (1 888 653-3911) and website (www.agence911.org) into service in order to provide Québecers with more information.
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