Search

CRTC 2026-73: Declines Canada Deaf Grassroots Movement VRS Policy Review Application

The CRTC declined the Canada Deaf Grassroots Movement's application to review and vary Telecom Regulatory Policy 2025-54 on video relay service (VRS). The Commission found that CDGM did not establish substantial doubt as to the correctness of the updated VRS policy under section 62 of the Telecommunications Act. The decision preserves the current VRS policy, which enhanced inclusivity, usability, and flexibility for the Canadian Administrator of VRS (CAV), Inc.

CRTC Denies VRS Policy Review Request by Deaf and Hard of Hearing Coalition

The CRTC has denied an application by the Deaf and Hard of Hearing Coalition (DHH Coalition) to review and vary Telecom Regulatory Policy 2025-54, which updated Canada's Video Relay Service (VRS) policy. The Commission found that the applicant failed to establish substantial doubt as to the correctness of the updated VRS policy, which had made the service more inclusive, enhanced its usability, and given the Canadian Administrator of VRS (CAV) flexibility to evolve with technological advances. The DHH Coalition had argued that maintaining minimum requirements and a funding cap on CAV limits VRS development and prevents parity with telephone service available to hearing persons.