Copper telecommunication lines strung through remote areas of New Brunswick have in the last few years increasingly become a target for thieves.
Thefts cause outages that can last for weeks
Oliver Pearson · CBC News
· Posted: Aug 06, 2026 5:00 AM EDT | Last Updated: 1 hour ago
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High prices for copper have led to huge increases in theft. (B.C. Hydro/X)
Copper telecommunication lines strung through remote areas of New Brunswick have in the last few years increasingly become a target for thieves.
Light traffic in rural areas is attractive to thieves, said Eric Smith, senior vice president of the Canadian Telecommunications Association, and prices for the metal hover around all-time highs.
Bell Canada and Rogers Communications are seeing their networks attacked by people looking to sell their copper for scrap.
Bell said last week that in New Brunswick thefts have increased 235 per cent from 2025. Rogers said New Brunswick has been one of the hardest hit provinces in 2026, with a 400 per cent increase in outage hours due to vandalism since 2024.
The Canadian Telecommunications Association has lobbied for changes to federal law, » Read More
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