No-call list could help Yukon businesses

The upcoming national do-not-call list could be good news for business in the city and territory, says the president of the Whitehorse Chamber of Commerce.

The upcoming national do-not-call list could be good news for business in the city and territory, says the president of the Whitehorse Chamber of Commerce.

Rick Karp said in an interview this morning the list, which will enable residents across the country to have their names on a list many telemarketers will be prevented from calling, could mean Yukoners looking at local shops before considering shopping Outside.

The do-not call list is being implemented by the Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission (CRTC). The commission has set Sept. 30 as the date consumers can begin registering their phone numbers so telemarketers won’t call.

Telemarketers will then have 31 days to update their calling lists to take off those registered on the national list.

While many telemarketers will be restricted from contacting those registered on the list, exceptions are in place for registered charities, political parties, polling companies, newspapers selling subscriptions and businesses the consumer already deals with.

“It’s more of a positive than a negative up here,“ Karp said.

Receiving calls from companies in the South often means Yukoners begin thinking about shopping Outside, either by travelling there or ordering items by phone or on-line.

Karp noted that while everyone can appreciate the enjoyment of going shopping while on vacation, it’s important to shop locally when they’re at home in order to support the local economy.

Many local businesses are actively working to compete with Outside shops and understand the reality of Internet shopping and so on, he said.

As Yukoners wait for the Sept. 30 registration date, Northwestel Inc. is preparing to start informing northerners how they can register and make complaints if there are violations.

“We haven’t started on the public awareness campaign yet,“ Northwestel spokeswoman Anne Kennedy said today.

Bell Canada has the contract to oversee the list.

All phone companies will be required to publicize the information in their next phone directories following the implementation of the list.

Northwestel is also planning to follow the recommendations the CRTC passed along to the phone companies that would see it inform new business customers who appear to be setting up a telemarketing business of the rules and put the information on its website.

The timing for the information to appear on Northwestel’s website works out well, Kennedy said.

“We’re currently doing a website redesign,“ she explained.

The company occasionally gets complaints about telemarketers.

However, Kennedy noted nuisance telemarketing tends to be more of a problem in the South, where she knows of a few people that have started to make a point of not answering or screening their calls during the early evening when telemarketers frequently phone.

It will be up to the CRTC to enforce the regulations, which could see violators face fines of up to $1,500 for individuals and up to $15,000 for corporations.

As of Sept. 30, those wanting their name on the do-not call list can register by calling 1-866-580-3625 or by logging on to http://www.LNNTE-DNCL.gc.ca

Phone numbers will remain on the list for three years before they expire, at which time residents will have to register again.