Public Mobile Alerts Customers About New 9-1-1 Taxes
Public Mobile has begun notifying some of its customers about upcoming taxes related to 9-1-1 services. This message is notably aimed at users with area codes from alberta and Saskatchewan.
According to various Reddit posts, the new tax will take effect on July 31, 2025.Customers shared screenshots of texts they received from Public Mobile, which stated:
“The provincial government mandates a monthly tax to support local 9-1-1 emergency services. Starting July 31, 2025, you will see an Alberta provincial 9-1-1 tax of $0.95/month on your bill.”
or
“The provincial government mandates a monthly tax to support local 9-1-1 emergency services. Starting July 31, 2025, you will see a Saskatchewan provincial 9-1-1 tax of $2.14/month on your bill.”
No Tax for Some Provinces
Interestingly, Public’s website notes that provinces like Ontario, British Columbia (B.C.), and Manitoba do not impose any such taxes for their residents using the service. The Telus-owned provider explains that these taxes are required by certain provincial governments and help fund the operations of local emergency services.
A Breakdown of Provincial Taxes
- alberta – $0.95/mo
- New Brunswick – $0.97/mo
- newfoundland and Labrador – $0.75/mo
- Nova Scotia – $0.43/mo
- Northwest Territories – $3/mo
- Prince Edward Island – $0.70/mo
- Saskatchewan – $2.14/mo
- (quebec has a municipal tax at -$0 .54 /mo)
The History Behind these Changes in Alberta and Saskatchewan
This isn’t entirely new for customers in Alberta; they have been paying a similar fee for years now—so it raises questions as to why Public is sending out these reminders now.
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Starting August {A}, this amount is expected to rise again from its current rate of $${$}= $${$}= $${$}= $${$}= $${$}= $ ${A}.
Diverse Approaches Among Carriers
Not all Canadian mobile providers handle these fees similarly when it comes to charging customers for their access to emergency services.
Telus and Bell—along with their subsidiaries like Koodo and Virgin Plus—simply add this fee directly onto customer bills where applicable.
Conversely,Rogers used different methods in the past regarding how they charged customers for accessing emergency services thru their plans.
Previously offering a separate charge called “Emergency Access Fee” at around $$=$=$=$=$$$=$$$=$$$=$$$={A}, Rogers later transitioned into what they termed as “Government Regulatory recovery Fee,” which lasted until mid-July 2016.
Rogers’ subsidiary Chatr does not impose any fees related specifically towards accessing emergency numbers.
As changes unfold across Canada regarding how mobile carriers manage these charges associated with essential public safety resources like calling emergencies via phone lines or devices connected wirelessly—it’s crucial that consumers stay informed about what impacts them directly.
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