Residents of L’Isle-aux-Allumettes denounce shoddy landline service

Residents of L’Isle-aux-Allumettes denounce shoddy landline service

In addition to the ongoing issues with electricity service and cellular coverage in the Municipality of L’Isle-aux-Allumettes, there is also the longstanding issue of shoddy landline service in certain sectors as well. Residents of the Raymond Line area on the island have been having interruptions to their service every spring for the past few years.

For several years, residents have complained about the maintenance of telephone lines and Bell equipment. The unofficial spokesman for area residents, local farmer David Gillespie, said the situation has become ridiculous (Gillespie also sits on CHIP 101.9’s board of directors). He sent an email to MP Sophie Chatel and MNA André Fortin, adding Bell Canada President Mirko Bibic.

“For the second time this month, my neighbors and I have no landline service. In fact, the line is dead,” Gillespie wrote (translated). “The first time we had no service for three days during the February 4 weekend cold snap with a power outage. Those using fiber optics have service today, unlike this weekend when no Bell service was available. As you know, this is clearly unacceptable as it presents a serious safety issue without 911 service, especially if it is a medical or fire emergency. I am also reaching out to the President of Bell and asking you to talk to him and deal with this ridiculous situation which, by the way, happens every spring, probably due to exposed phone lines, as shown in the attached photo. Keep in mind that this pedestal had an orange bag on top (meaning a temporary solution) which stayed that way until the weather deteriorated it (see the second photo of the same pedestal two years earlier). Solution ? Put an orange cone on it! An excellent solution since it will take years to deteriorate.”

Following his email indicating the problem, the Bell company attempted to follow up by telephone with Gillespie, without success due to the issue with the landline. Gillespie had to remind them that he would indeed not be reachable by phone given the nature of the problem and asked again that the follow-up be done by email from now on.

 

Bell has not responded to an interview request from CHIP 101.9.