The Honourable Tony Clement, Minister of Industry, today made the following statement regarding the Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission’s (CRTC) settlement with Xentel DM Inc. over the company’s unauthorized telemarketing practices:
“I am pleased with today’s CRTC announcement concerning its settlement with Xentel. This settlement underscores the success of the National Do Not Call List and is good news for Canadian consumers. A CRTC investigation revealed that Xentel, on its own and on behalf of not-for-profit organizations that were not registered charities, had been calling Canadians registered on the National Do Not Call List.
“The company has paid a $500,000 penalty and will publish corrective notices in The Globe and Mail and La Presse to explain to Canadians how it violated the CRTC ’s Unsolicited Telecommunications Rules.
“This settlement, the highest in Canada since the National Do Not Call List was introduced in 2008, shows that progress is being made. In addition, a survey earlier this year by the Marketing Research and Intelligence Association indicated that 84 percent of Canadians reported having fewer unwanted telemarketing calls, compared to 80 percent in 2009. To date, 8.9 million phone numbers have been registered with the Do Not Call List. This is great news and yet another example of the government’s efforts on behalf of Canadian consumers.”
The National Do Not Call List was put in place by the Harper Government to help reduce the number of unsolicited calls Canadians receive from telemarketers.
For further information (media only), please contact:
Lynn Meahan
Press Secretary
Office of the Honourable Tony Clement
Minister of Industry
613-995-9001
Media Relations
Industry Canada
613-943-2502
