Resolution No. 22-04M

WHEREAS, SaskTel is the primary internet service provider in rural Saskatchewan; and

WHEREAS, internet use has become much more prevalent and is increasingly necessary to the function of our society; and

WHEREAS, there are many websites which contain materials which are illegal and detrimental to the social order such as child pornography; and

WHEREAS, there are many websites which contain fraudulent pop ups and cookies which serve to harm Saskatchewan people, causing huge telephone bills and financial hardship, which could be avoided if these sites were filtered or blocked; and

WHEREAS, SaskTel, being a crown corporation and owned by the people of Saskatchewan should be held to a higher standard, but all internet service providers should be equally concerned about these issues;

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED, that SaskTel and all other internet service providers in Saskatchewan be requested to filter and/or block internet web sites which contain illegal materials such as child pornography as they become aware of them; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that SaskTel and all other internet service providers in Saskatchewan be requested to filter and/or block internet web sites which defraud customers with illegal cookies and/or pop ups as they become aware of them.

Response from Honourable Maynard Soontag, Minister Responsible for SaskTel:

As an internet service provider, SaskTel provides the gateway for its customers to the internet and email. However, SaskTel cannot control what is delivered via email or the internet. Although it is neither practical nor possible for SaskTel or any internet service provider to monitor internet content, SaskTel will investigate complaints regarding illegal content and will take appropriate action.

In Canada, it is a criminal offence to possess or distribute child pornography. SaskTel's terms of service with its internet and hosting customers reflect this. If any of this illegal content were to be located on SaskTel hosted sites, SaskTel would immediately remove it and report the matter to the police as these activities can only be addressed by law enforcement agencies. With respect to internet sites which defraud customers, SaskTel advises customers to take precautionary steps such as installing anti-virus software, firewall software, and pop-up blocking capabilities before accessing the internet.