Yukoners’ “frustrating” problems with their communications services persist, Premier Ranj Pillai has told Bell Canada.
Things have reached the point where they’re impacting health care service and wildland firefighting operations, the premier has told the company. He has also floated the concept of Bell offering compensation for affected Yukoners.
He first sent a letter to president Mirko Bibic, Bell’s president and CEO, on July 25 outlining the various problems and service failures. The Montreal-based Bibic responded, saying the company was working on solutions.
Pillai wrote him again earlier this month.
“I appreciate the detailed update on the steps Bell is taking to address the wireless service issues experienced by Yukoners,” Pillai told Bibic in his latest letter.
“Despite the efforts and investments you outlined in your letter, Yukoners tell me that they continue to experience intermittent disruptions in their wireless service.
“While we appreciate Bell’s ongoing efforts to upgrade infrastructure and improve capacity, these issues have not dissipated. They remain a significant concern for our residents,” the premier wrote.
“For example, I have received reports from nurses in rural communities indicating that these call issues are interrupting their ability to communicate with doctors and obtain critical patient lab results. Such disruptions in essential health care communications are unacceptable and pose a risk to the well-being of our community members.
“I have heard from wildland firefighter personnel who have had challenges even being able to speak to a Bell technician about dropped calls because the service continued to cut out throughout the call. I have heard from other Yukoners who have reported call issues so frequently that they were advised to stop calling.”
Given the ongoing nature of these issues, Pillai wrote, “I would like to request a direct phone number where Yukoners can speak to a person about the call issues they are experiencing.
“I also strongly urge Bell to consider providing compensation to Yukoners, as they have been paying full price for a service that does not meet the expected standards of reliability and quality. This would demonstrate Bell’s commitment to wireless customers in the North and acknowledge the inconveniences they have faced.”
Pillai said the government appreciates “your continued attention to this matter and look forward to a swift resolution. The Government of Yukon remains committed to working with Bell and other local partners to ensure that all Yukoners have access to reliable and high-quality wireless service.”
