Schooling and working from home has become the new normal — making access to Internet more vital than ever.

However, many Northerners feel the cost and quality of Internet service in this area puts them at a disadvantage compared to other regions in the country.

“The lack of access to reasonable download Internet and also reasonably priced Internet has emerged as a very, very serious issue in the North right now,” MP Charlie Angus (NDP — Timmins-James Bay) told The Daily Press.

“Children have to do their lessons online and people are working from home” and yet, he said, many are being “unfairly dinged” with data overuse fees from their telecommunications service providers.

“I dealt with one woman who had a bill for $650,” said Angus. “We had a case of someone paying over $500. They said they were having to pay more for their Internet than their mortgage.”

Some Internet providers across the country have temporarily removed data overage fees for home Internet use or have offered flexible payment options for those impacted by the pandemic.

Rogers announced last month it would waive long-distance voice calling fees across the country at least until April 30, as well as waiving roaming fees for customers outside Canada. The company has also promised that services will not be suspended or disconnected for any customers experiencing financial difficulties during the next 90 days.

Telus similarly waived home Internet overage charges for customers who are not on unlimited data plans until the end of April, while waiving pay-per-use roaming charges for postpaid customers.

“We’ve been pushing Bell to step up their game, just as the Prime Minister has asked banks, we need to the telecom servers to give people a break in terms of the prices they are charging for the over-usage fees,” said Angus. “We need some solution because Internet has become an essential service. So far Bell has resisted that.”

In response to Angus’s remarks, Bell Canada spokesman Marc Choma told The Daily Press, “We’ve been in touch with MP Angus to discuss the challenges service providers face in ensuring networks in rural and remote regions remain reliable for all customers, including our public safety providers, at a time like this.

“While we can’t offer unlimited service to our turbo hub customers without risking network congestion, we are providing extra usage and bill credits. We’re always happy to speak with customers about any concerns with their accounts or services,” Choma added.

Angus said, “I think this is something that has to be brought to the Industry Committee (Standing Committee on Industry, Science and Technology) on an emergency basis to look at because if Internet has been deemed an essential service and the way we’re going to get through this economically, socially and for the education of our children, we cannot have people in the North being faced with such outrageous fees they can’t cover in order to access basic services like education right now.

“My colleague Brian Masse (NDP — Windsor West) has been really pushing hard on this and I think this is something we can get all-party support on. This is not a partisan issue. Rural people need to know they’re going to be able to use the Internet without having to pay an arm and a leg. I mean, the fact some people’s mortgage payments are less than your Internet service at a time of COVID is outrageous.”