Application for Interim Order filed under the Competition Act Against Universal Payphone Systems Inc.

OTTAWA, September 15, 1999 — The Competition Bureau announced today that an application for an interim order has been filed with the Competition Tribunal to prevent Universal Payphone Systems Inc. of Mississauga, Ontario from continuing to use certain marketing practices in the promotion of its payphone business opportunity.

The application asks the Tribunal to order Universal to cease marketing its payphone business to consumers through the use of misleading representations, relating to matters such as the income potential for investors, the "turn key" nature of the investment and the costs for entry into this market.

This is the first application under the civil misleading representation provisions, which were added to the Competition Act in recent amendments.

Universal is engaged in the sale and promotion of a business opportunity to set up individual payphone businesses. Universal promotes its business through the use of radio and print advertising on a national basis. The market for payphones in Canada was opened to competitive entry following a decision by the CRTC in July, 1998.

For further information, please contact:

Julie Hébert
819-953-4257