February 4, 2009

Canada’s Do Not Call List was supposed to help consumers reduce the number of unwanted telemarketing calls they receive. Instead, Canadians who have registered their numbers to be put on the list are now receiving more calls than ever.

“I have heard from frustrated seniors in Prince Edward Island that they are now getting more calls than before they registered,” says Charlottetown Senator Percy Downe. “The Conservative Government has completely failed to protect Canadians from annoying and unwanted calls,” said Downe.

The Harper Government is allowing telemarketers and scam artists to purchase the Do Not Call List for $55.00 from the CRTC website.

Senator Downe is urging the Conservative Government to immediately stop selling the telephone numbers and protect the private phone numbers of Canadians who signed up to the Do Not Call List under the pretense that they were going to be protected from receiving unwanted telemarketing calls.

Fines for abusing the Do Not Call registry can be as high as $15,000 for a corporation and $1,500 for an individual, but to date, the Harper Government has not levied even one fine.

For further information:
Senator Percy Downe: 613-943-8107
Or toll free at 1-800-267-7362
www.sen.parl.gc.ca/pdowne