In spite of being "very concerned" with cell phone rates, Flaherty did nothing about it in the 2014 budget, and now...

Here's what the major gougers did overnight:

Wireless carriers hike prices across Canada

says this morning's headlines.

"Canada’s big three wireless carriers have hiked the base prices for new plans by $5 in most markets over the past two months.

"Rogers, Telus and Bell Mobility now all charge $80 per month for new smartphone plans with a new contract, $5 more than what many of those same plans cost when they were introduced last year. The prices for other smartphone plans with more data cost upwards of $145." ~ Yahoo News.

So even if he were to do something about it now (after the proverbial horse has been stolen), the damage has already been done.

From a personal perspective, my Bell Canada internet bill has increased from $48 in 2012, to $62 on Jan. 01, 2014, and to $65 in Feb. 2014. That's a 32% increase in roughly two years, so if that doesn't fit the definition of gouging I don't know what would.

And if Flaherty doesn't fit the definition of 'gutless', I don't know who would!