Data roaming?

Hello Mikes. 

First things first, you should start by checking Videotron's coverage map on the following website . 

If the area you describe in the south of Ottawa is on the orange/Darker Yellow portion of this map, it is likely that your situation isn't normal and would require troubleshooting with Videotron's technical support.  A simple address can be used to look up the theoretical signal in some places - and if it doesn't match what you experience, that's a sign to escalate the issue. Even if it does match what you would expect in that part of the city, they can offer solutions to your problem, such as Wi-Fi calls , and trying out different network connections . 

As for roaming, a vast majority of phone plans will allow it , as long as you stay within the limits of your plan. The big differences are that when roaming, your celling for overusage fees is higher - That is to say that if you use your mobile data too much  in the subscription zone, Videotron has to stop you at 50$ to avoid excessive billing.  However, if you are roaming, that celling is now 100$, so twice as high. 

Another thing to consider is that if you roam, you must still keep the majority of your usage on Videotron's network . If you do not, you could be blocked from using the Partner network 2  for a period of 30 days.  If you wish to know more about the Partner Network 2 restrictions, you can learn more here . 

Hope this helps!