Bell Mobility rebuffed in northern 911 challenge, again

Bell Mobility Inc. has lost another bid to overturn aruling that held it liable for charging customers in the northern territories a 911 fee without actually offering the emergency-call service.

The Supreme Court of Canada refused today to hear the company's challenge of a Northwest Territories Court of Appeal ruling.

As usual, the high court gave no reason for declining to hear theappeal.

In most of the Northwest Territories, the Yukon andNunavut,there is no 911 service.

Instead, a 911 call may be answered by a recorded message.

However, for several years monthly bills carried a75-centcharge, prompting a class-action lawsuit by subscribers.

A trial judge ruled Bell Mobility had breached its contractual obligations, a decision that was upheld by the appeal court.