Stricter Penalties, Rules Needed to Combat Copper Wire Theft, Telecoms Tell Senators

Pedestrians walk past a vandalized high voltage electric box on the 6th Street Viaduct, on Aug. 27, 2024, in Los Angeles, which has been damaged by copper wire theft. The Canadian Press/AP-Damian Dovarganes

Canadian telecommunications companies are calling for stiffer penalties targeting copper wire theft and new rules that would limit the vandals’ ability to resell the material.

Executives from Bell Canada and Telus Corp. told the Senate’s transport and communications committee on Wednesday evening that the problem continues worsen, wreaking havoc on emergency services and business operations when their networks are disrupted.