THUNDER BAY — People with 807 phone numbers will have to dial 10 digits to call anyone as of next May, even if it's just a call to a next-door neighbour.
It's because of an order by the Canadian Radio-Television and Telecommunications Commission for all telecommunications service providers in Canada to transition to 10-digit local calling by May 2023.
Northwestern Ontario is one of only a handful of regions where this isn't already in place.
The implementation of ten-digit dialing nationwide will facilitate the introduction in November 2023 of a new 988 dialing code for mental health crisis and suicide prevention services.
Anyone who calls or texts 988 will get access to free counselling.
Adding the area code to all local calls solves the problem created by the fact that some people in Canada already have 988 as the first three digits in their phone numbers. Without the area code, anyone calling these individuals would be redirected to the crisis line as soon as they inputted these digits.
The CRTC says establishing a 24/7 easy-to-remember number will help reduce barriers to mental health and suicide prevention resources, and will allow for more equitable access regardless of geographic location or socio-economic status.
According to the CRTC, telecommunications service providers such as Tbaytel, Bell and Shaw must make some modifications to their networks to transition to 10-digit dialing.
Tbaytel is expected to launch an awareness campaign to give notice to its residential and business customers in the coming weeks.
The Canadian Numbering Administrator, which provides services to the telecommunications industry under the oversight of the CRTC, revealed some of the rollout plans in a statement issued Wednesday.
It said that between April 1 and May 31 next year, people placing local calls using only seven digits will hear a recorded message reminding them they need to use the area code as well.
But as of May 31, calls dialed without the area code will not be connected.
