The Federal Court of Appeal has dismissed Bell Canada’s motion to suspend a temporary CRTC decision authorizing access to its fibre network in Quebec and Ontario

Woods is proud to have successfully represented Videotron in defeating Bell Canada’s preliminary motion to stay a decision of the Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission (CRTC).  The CRTC’s decision, issued last November, is designed to reverse the decline in competition in the Canadian Internet services market. It forces Bell to offer temporary access to its fibre network in Quebec and Ontario to competing service providers. According to the CRTC, this measure is aimed at improving the availability of choice and the affordability of Internet services for consumers.

The Federal Court of Appeal granted Bell Canada leave to appeal the temporary decision made by the CRTC, but refused to stay it until the case is heard on its merits. As a result, Bell Canada is required to grant competitors access to its fibre network starting this May.

Laurence Ste-Marie, Cara Cameron and Joshua Bouzaglou represent Videotron. To read the Federal Court of Appeal’s decision, click here.