For the past century, cellphone companies have been providing monthly cellphone plans, where consumers pay a fixed price each month, regardless if they use up all their airtime or text messaging.

Earlier this year, a new Canadian Wireless provider, by the name of Ting, introduced a new cellphone plan, where the customer only pays for what they use. Ting buys network from other companies at a wholesale price and then sells it back to people who sign up with the company.

The Toronto-based provider thrives in the U.S as Sprint company sells them their mobile network. Ting “would love to be in Canada” but cannot, because the big three, Bell, Telus and Rogers refuse to sell them their network.

The big three cellphone companies have a comparative advantage as they have a strong barrier protecting other competitors from entering the telecommunications market. Consumers’ have no choice and are forced to pay high prices due to a lack of cellphone carriers. In order for Ting to thrive into the Canadian market, and benefit Canadian consumers, the government must enforce laws to loosen the patent the big three have.

Saltzman, Aaron & The Canadian Press. “The Canadian mobile phone service you can’t get here- Ting buys network access in the U.S. and sells it on to its subscribers”. CBC News. 01 Aug 2013. Web. 05 Oct 2013.

Link on the new wireless provider:

https://ting.com/

Statistics Canada, one of the top statistical agencies in the world, has disappointed many after launching results from the new voluntary survey. The survey known as Canada’s National Household Survey on incomes, reported unreliable data to the extent that it is known as “garbage”.

The voluntary survey is weaker and obscure from the previous mandatory long-form census in 2010, because of lower response rates that make it difficult to produce unbiased conclusions. Society as a whole is harmed from this data, as it misguides important policy decisions, like how income is distributed, and whether new social services need to be made etc.

The NHS by Statistics Canada shows how important and influential auditing is in the world of accounting. If the auditor-general had paid close attention to the numbers and the data, the survey wouldn’t be so ridiculous. The irony is, the new survey which required more money than the previous census, proved to be completely useless. If the government had continued to use the mandatory census in previous years, urban planners and consultants would get a better picture on the distribution of incomes, and be able to make strong decisions accordingly.

Grant, Tavia. “Canadian income data ‘is garbage’ without census, experts say”. The Globe and Mail, Phillip Crawley. 04 Oct 2013. Web. 05 Oct 2013.