February 25, 2009

Honourable Tony Clement, P.C., M.P.
Minister of Industry Canada
East Tower, 11th Floor
235 Queen Street
Ottawa ON K1A 0H5

Dear Minister Clement:

I have received inquiries from concerned Prince Edward Islanders about the use and misuse of the Do-Not-Call List.

I recently asked a question in the Senate Chamber to Government Leader Senator Marjory LeBreton, who confirmed that the Government is indeed concerned about this matter, and that you specifically were addressing this serious issue.

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

Given the increasing number of comments I continue to receive, I would urge you to take immediate action, and thus stop the sale and distribution of the Do-Not-Call List to any group or individual other than recognized Canadian telemarketers who appear to be obeying the Canadian law.

I would urge you to take immediate action to 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.

Yours truly,

Original signed by

Percy E. Downe
Senator