N.W.T. man challenges 911 cellphone charge

A Yellowknife man is suing Bell Mobility, saying the company unfairly charges him 75 cents a month for 911 service the Northwest Territories does not have.

Contractor James Anderson said he uses his cellphone for work and also pays the bills for the phones of his wife and son.

Anderson said he decided to file the lawsuit after complaining to the store that sold himthe phone and servicepackage.

"There was no satisfactory explanation other than everybody had to pay it," Anderson told CBC News. "So it wasn't something I was satisfied with."

The $6-million class action lawsuit was filed against Bell Mobility in late November by Anderson's lawyer, Keith Landy.

"Of course these are allegations that have yet to be proven in court, but I think it's pretty self-evident that, at the moment, there is no 911 emergency service in Yellowknife or the Northwest Territories," Landy said.

If Anderson wins the case, it could mean Bell cellphone customers in other parts of Canada without access to 911 services may benefit, he said.

A spokesperson for Bell Mobility said the company does not want to comment while the matter is before the courts.