OTTAWA-GATINEAU, July 28, 2011 – Today, the Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission (CRTC) announced a new area code to manage the telephone number shortage that will affect the province of British Columbia, currently covered by area codes 250, 604 and 778.
Starting June 1, 2013, new telephone numbers assigned in the province may be given the area code 236. Existing customers will keep their current area codes and phone numbers.
These measures are being implemented in response to the Canadian Numbering Administrator’s assessment that the region is expected to run out of telephone numbers by August 2016.
Until 1996, 604 was the only area code in British Columbia. At that time, 250 was introduced to serve the area outside the Greater Vancouver Area. In 2001, area code 778 and 10-digit dialing were introduced in the Greater Vancouver Area, before being extended across the province in 2008.
Telecom Decision CRTC 2011-451
The CRTC is an independent public authority that regulates and supervises broadcasting and telecommunications in Canada.
Reference document:
Telecom Decision CRTC 2010-815
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