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This article was published 16/5/2011 (3425 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

The Manitoba government ushered in new rules for cell-phone companies today by introducing a new law to simplify cell-phone contracts.

Legislation is to be tabled this afternoon, with intended implementation in 2012.

Consumer Affairs Minister Gord Mackintosh said today it's hoped the new rules will save consumers as much as $640 a year on some contracts.

The rules will allow customers to cancel a contract before end of term, ban unreasonable cancellation fees and require the minimum monthly cost to be included in advertisements.

Mackintosh said Manitoba's legislation mirrors Quebec's, which is already in force.

He also said the terms of a contract have to also become clear, so that a customer doesn't need "a math degree" to figure it out.

As seen in Quebec, it's not anticipated phone prices will go up in Manitoba, he added, so cell-phone companies can recoup revenue lost by government reducing excessive cancellation fees.

The new rules also include the following protections: