What began as one South Shore man’s frustration with unreliable cell service has grown into a provincewide campaign, with thousands of survey responses and a new federal petition calling for change.
Christopher Quigley of Upper Cornwall says he struggled to make calls from his own home without relying on Wi-Fi, leaving him concerned about what would happen during a power outage or emergency.
He started by asking neighbours whether they were experiencing similar problems. That eventually grew into a survey reaching communities across Nova Scotia.
Between June and August, Quigley received roughly 2,270 responses, including about 980 personal accounts involving difficulties making calls or contacting emergency services.
Among those who responded, 88 per cent reported having no reliable cell service, or only sometimes reliable service, at home without Wi-Fi calling. About 97 per cent expressed concerns that poor coverage could prevent or delay access to emergency assistance.
Quigley stresses those figures represent survey respondents, not the entire provincial population.
“Reliable cellular service is a public safety issue,” Quigley said. “Coverage should be measured by whether the people can actually make a phone call and whether they can actually receive a call.”
From community survey to federal petition
After presenting his findings to South Shore—St. Margarets MP Jessica Fancy, Quigley says her office encouraged him to pursue a federal petition.
That petition, e-7865, opened November 2 and contains five requests for the federal government.
It calls on Ottawa to recognize dependable cell coverage as a public safety necessity, establish standards that measure whether calls can actually be completed, and use community complaints to identify gaps that may not appear on official coverage maps.
It also calls for coverage to be assessed during power and internet outages, and for the federal government to use its regulatory and funding powers to address documented service gaps.
Quigley says the distinction between predicted coverage and actual performance is important, particularly in rural communities.
He points to wildfire risks and emergencies where residents may need to call 911 without access to home internet.
Under House of Commons rules, the petition must collect at least 500 valid signatures to qualify for presentation to Parliament. Once presented, the federal government is required to provide a response within 45 calendar days. House of Commons of Canada+1
A government response would not guarantee new towers or immediate improvements, but it would require Ottawa to formally address the concerns raised.
The petition remains open until January 31, 2027.
Nova Scotia already working to close coverage gaps
The campaign comes as Nova Scotia continues a major effort to improve cellular coverage.
A provincial study identified more than 20,000 civic addresses and roughly 1,010 kilometres of primary roads without cellular service.
The province’s Cellular for Nova Scotia Program includes upgrades to existing towers and construction of new infrastructure. The 2026-27 provincial budget also committed $33.4 million toward expanding the province’s emergency radio network and continuing the cellular improvement program. Build Nova Scotia+1
Quigley says he has already shared his findings with Build Nova Scotia, which he believes has taken the concerns seriously.
However, he argues additional federal involvement is necessary because telecommunications providers are federally regulated.
He also says the campaign has attracted interest from senators in Nova Scotia and elsewhere in Canada.
For Quigley, the objective is making sure the thousands of people who shared their experiences see their concerns addressed.
“I don’t want this information to disappear into a report that nobody ever reads or anything happens with,” he said.
He hopes the petition will help turn those personal experiences into meaningful improvements for people who depend on their phones, particularly during emergencies.
