705 - 249 - Huh?

Starting this weekend, I’m going to have to dial 10 digits when I make a local phone call. Apparently, the 705 area code is maxed out so our area is being assigned an additional area code - 249. But, not for a while.

I don’t get how it works. Can someone explain it to me?

I live in 705. Right now I dial 7 digits in the 705 area. And if I dial a long distance number in 705, I dial “1 705". But starting this weekend I need to dial 705for a local call. Why? If it’s a local call, it’s obviously 705. What changed in 705? There can’t be two phone numbers the same within 705 - either in Barrie or in Kapuskasing or Sudbury or Moose Factory - coz they are both 705 areas. So how does dialling 705 locally any different than dialling 705 for long distance?

Well, my friends I have it all figured out.

It’s like Y2K. Someone is making money from this erroneous 705 thing. It’s probably a conspiracy. Like, every time I dial the local 705 (for no reason), someone is accessing my bank account! Or maybe my phone is being tapped!

Listen - 249 isn’t even active. In the meantime, we’re wearing out our fingers.