Association urges government to further
strengthen Criminal Code to help combat increasing acts of theft
and vandalism against communications networks
OTTAWA,
ON, May 13, 2024 /CNW/ - The Canadian
Telecommunications Association welcomes new legislation that would
help safeguard Canada's
communications networks by imposing new offences in the Criminal
Code for sabotaging essential infrastructure.
Tabled in the House of Commons on May
6th, Bill C-70, An Act respecting countering
foreign interference, addresses a significant gap in our legal
framework by explicitly criminalizing acts of sabotage against
essential infrastructure, including the telecommunications network
equipment that Canadians rely on to stay connected.
As a national organization representing Canadian
telecommunications service providers, the Canadian
Telecommunications Association commends this initial step, but
emphasizes that more work still needs to be done. While Bill
C-70 addresses acts of sabotage that are intended to endanger
the safety, security or defence of Canada, it does not address the rapidly
increasing frequency of vandalism and theft that are disrupting
telecommunications services in communities across the country.
Whether it is stealing copper wires for resale as scrap metal,
or deliberate attempts to damage telecommunications equipment, this
rise in incidents of vandalism and theft demands further action.
These acts cause major disruptions to affected Canadians and can
have a serious impact on public health and safety.
"Telecommunications networks are the lifelines connecting
communities, businesses, and emergency services. Just as we cannot
afford disruptions due to sabotage, Canadians' safety should not be
put at risk because of acts of theft and vandalism," said Canadian
Telecommunications Association President and CEO, Robert Ghiz. "Network operators are spending
more to increase security and protect their network infrastructure,
but this alone will not halt these destructive acts. Strengthening
the Criminal Code will send a clear message that these actions will
not be tolerated."
Quick Facts
- Canadian telecommunications service providers have reported
that acts of thefts and/or vandalism of telecommunications sites
have increased by more than 400% since 2022. Incidents of copper
theft are responsible for the majority of physical security
incidents affecting telecommunications infrastructure.
- Service outages caused by theft or damage to telecommunications
sites has resulted in tens of millions of customer outage minutes
each year in communities across Canada.
- Service providers collectively spend millions of dollars
annually to repair or replace network equipment effected by theft
or vandalism.
- Outages caused by theft or vandalism frequently take longer to
repair than other types of outages due to the nature and extent of
the damage. On average, it takes 8 to 12 hours for
telecommunications providers to restore service to their customers
– though in some cases it takes much longer.
Call for Additional Amendments to
Criminal Code:
The Canadian Telecommunications Association is calling for
additional amendments to the Criminal Code to ensure that those who
intentionally damage or steal from telecom infrastructure face
severe consequences. Specifically, the Association is asking the
federal government to implement the recommendation of the Canadian
Telecommunications Network Resiliency Working Group, a
sub-committee of the Canadian Security Telecommunications Advisory
Committee (CSTAC) made up of telecommunications and public safety
experts from the public and private sectors, which has asked the
government for legislation that protects telecommunications
infrastructure by maximizing criminal penalties "in the event of
willful or negligent damage to, and/or acts of vandalism or theft
of critical network infrastructure."
"As an industry, we are committed to ensuring the resilience and
reliability of our networks. But without robust legal deterrents in
place, our efforts can only go so far," Ghiz said. "We implore
policymakers to act decisively to enhance the Criminal Code and
safeguard our vital communications infrastructure to preserve the
safety and security of all Canadians."
About the Canadian
Telecommunications Association
The Canadian Telecommunications Association is dedicated to
building a better future for Canadians through connectivity. Our
members include service providers, equipment manufacturers, and
other organizations in the telecommunications ecosystem, that
invest in, build, maintain and operate Canada's world-class telecommunications
networks. Through our advocacy initiatives, research, and events,
we work to promote the importance of telecommunications to
Canada's economic growth and
social development and advocate for policies that foster
investment, innovation, and positive outcomes for consumers. We
also facilitate industry initiatives, such as the Mobile Giving
Foundation Canada, Canadian Common Short
Codes, STAC and wirelessaccessibility.ca
SOURCE Canadian Telecommunications Association