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Québec municipal 9-1-1 tax

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 $0.52/month/customer (wireline and wireless). Telephone service providers 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 tax apply only in Québec?
Yes. The tax is an initiative of the Québec government and only applies to Québec subscribers. 

Will Télébec keep the $0.52 municipal tax?
No. Télébec must collect the tax on behalf of the Québec government. The $0.52 covers only the 911 tax. Of this amount, Télébec will keep $0.04 to offset its administrative fees. The remaining $0.42 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 911 tax? 
Yes. All wireline and wireless telephone service providers without exception must collect this tax of $0.52.