The other issue with Canadian telecom is that certain companies are essentially given a government monopoly in certain areas. Where I live, cogeco provides cable Internet and Bell DSL. However, in the next city Rogers does cable and another does DSL. The logic is that one company owns one line and does maintnence on it. Also encourages companies to raise prices and decrease service since you have no other choice.
As for cell phones, it comes down to competition. I know that Saskatchewan as saskatel and the offerings from Rogers, Bell Telus used to be half of what you would pay on other provinces (haven't checked this lately).