Switching your mobile plan in Canada is about to get easier on your wallet. Starting June 12, 2026, new CRTC rules remove many of the fees that made changing internet and cellphone plans painful, and the story picked up steam after reports that Telus planned a mandatory $15 SIM fee shortly before the rules take effect. If you've been thinking about shopping around, this is a good moment — but a plan switch can still create small headaches with your calls, texts, and two-factor codes. This guide walks through what's changing and how to switch without losing track of anything important.
What Changes on June 12, 2026
The headline is consumer-friendly: under CRTC Telecom Regulatory Policy 2026-43, starting June 12, 2026, providers can no longer charge fees for activating a new plan, modifying an existing plan, or cancelling a plan when no subsidized device is involved. Activation fees alone have ranged from roughly $30 to $80, so the change is designed to reduce the friction that keeps people locked into a plan simply because leaving feels expensive.
A few things to keep in mind before you celebrate:
- Not every charge disappears. Device-financing balances tied to a subsidized phone still have to be settled if you leave early, and reasonable physical installation fees can still apply.
- Confirm the details on the CRTC's official site before you make a decision, rather than relying on a social media summary.
- Switching is easier now, but it's still on you to make sure your number, contacts, and verification codes move cleanly.
Why the Telus SIM Fee Story Matters
The reason this topic trended is a reported Telus plan to charge a mandatory $15 SIM/eSIM fee just before the CRTC change landed. Whether or not that specific fee sticks, it's a useful reminder of a broader habit: carriers add small charges at exactly the moments you're most likely to accept them — during activation, a SIM swap, or an upgrade. When you're switching plans, those moments are precisely when you should slow down and check your bill line by line.
The practical takeaway isn't outrage; it's vigilance. Ask what each fee is for, whether it might be avoidable (for example, by using an eSIM where your provider offers one), and whether the plan you're leaving has any remaining device-financing balance.
What to Do Before You Switch SIMs or eSIMs
A clean switch is mostly about preparation. Before you change anything:
- Back up your contacts to your account (Google, iCloud) so they don't live only on a physical SIM.
- List your verification codes. Note which apps and services text codes to your number — banking, email, work tools — so you're not locked out mid-switch.
- Confirm number porting. If you're keeping your number, make sure the port is set up correctly; don't cancel your old service until the new line is fully active.
- Check eSIM support. An eSIM can let you activate a new plan without waiting for a physical card.
Where a Second Number Can Actually Help
This is where a second-number app such as DoCall fits — not as a replacement for your carrier line, but as an organization layer around it. A second number gives you a separate line for the parts of life you don't want tied to your main number, which is especially handy during a plan switch when things are in flux:
- Shopping around: talk to carriers, salespeople, and installers using a number you can mute or set aside later.
- Marketplace and classifieds: sell or buy items without handing your primary number to strangers.
- Side work and bookings: keep freelance calls, deliveries, and reservations separate from personal texts.
- Non-critical sign-ups: use it for newsletters, loyalty programs, and apps where the number isn't tied to anything sensitive.
Because DoCall works over the internet on iOS and Android, it also stays with you if you change carriers — so the "extra line" part of your life doesn't get disrupted every time you switch plans.
Where You Should Not Use a VoIP Number
Being honest about limits matters more than overselling. A VoIP second number is not the right home for:
- Banking and financial 2FA. Keep these on your primary, carrier-backed number.
- Government and healthcare logins. These often require a verified personal line.
- Carrier porting and account recovery. The number you use to manage your carrier account should be your main line.
- Emergency contact details. Anything safety-critical belongs on your primary number.
Use a second number to reduce clutter and protect your privacy — not to route the codes that protect your money and identity.
A Simple Switching Checklist for Calls, Texts, and Codes
- Confirm the CRTC change details and the real cost of switching on official sources.
- Audit every fee on the new plan, including any SIM/eSIM charge.
- Back up contacts and list which services text codes to your number.
- Set up number porting first; cancel the old line only after the new one works.
- Move only non-sensitive calls and texts to a second number like DoCall, and keep banking, government, and recovery on your primary line.
- Test calls, texts, and a couple of verification codes the same day you switch.
The June 12, 2026 rules genuinely tilt things toward consumers, and switching phone plans in Canada has rarely been cheaper or easier. With a little preparation — and a clear line between what belongs on your main number and what doesn't — you can take advantage of a better plan without losing a single call, text, or code in the process.