Message relay services enable people with a hearing or speech disability to make and receive telephone calls via text with the assistance of a relay operator. In an MRS call, the relay operator communicates with the person who has a hearing or speech disability via text and with the other party via voice.

• TTY relay service
  TTY relay service is offered to all home phone subscribers in Canada. In a TTY relay service call, a person with a hearing or speech disability uses a TTY and dials 7-1-1 to reach a relay operator. A TTY is a telephone-typewriter hybrid that transmits text-based messages to another TTY over the telephone network. Conversely, the other party may call the person with a disability by dialing a toll-free number (1-800-855-0511) to reach a TTY relay operator.

• IP relay service
  IP relay service is offered to all subscribers of home or mobile phone service in Canada. In an IP relay service call, a person with a hearing or speech disability uses an Internet-enabled device (e.g., computer, laptop, tablet, mobile phone) to reach a relay operator by logging into the IP relay provider’s web portal. Conversely, the other party may call the person with a disability by dialing a toll-free number to reach an IP relay operator.

In 2018, the CRTC introduced quality standards to enhance the user experience of MRS. The new standards are, for example, providing MRS users faster response times and increased accuracy of the services, as well as accessible IP relay interfaces.

In addition to MRS, there is another kind of relay service available in Canada, called Video Relay Service. Unlike an MRS call, which is conducted via text, a VRS call is conducted via sign-language.

Source: Message Relay Services | CRTC