The Member of Parliament for Dauphin-Swan-River-Neepawa is weighing in on the debate over cell service issues in his riding, particularly in the RM of Alonsa. Robert Sopuck says the issue is concerning and that people in the area had gotten used to having reliable service, in some cases foregoing land lines in favor of cellular phones.

"It's a huge concern," says Sopuck. "I've been the MP for seven years now and travelled pretty much on every road. I know to the hundred metres basically where the cell phone service stops and starts. I'm well aware personally and in fact, at my own home I have no cell phone service, very few of us do in this region where I live south of Riding Mountain National Park."

The main complaint that has arisen in Alonsa is that the customers did have cell service but after recent upgrades to existing infrastructure, they're saying they no longer have service. Sopuck urges consumers who are unhappy to look to the original briefing when Bell purchased MTS.

"There were all these promises about province-wide investment and service to remote and rural areas," says Sopuck. "One thing that these public companies will do is they will quickly gravitate to where the most money can be made. They made all these commitments to rural Manitoba, I don't think they've followed through at all."

Sopuck says he is disappointed as he references access to emergency services, indicating there is a significant personal danger involved in the issue. He alludes to cases in southeastern Manitoba were there were instances of people being in emergency situations and not being able to access cellular services. Sopuck adds cell service is no longer a convenience but has become a necessity in today's day and age.