HALIFAX - Industry Minister Tony Clement insists Ottawa will press ahead with plans to overturn a CRTC decision on usage-based Internet billing if the regulator doesn't change course.

Clement says he is pleased the Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission will delay implementing its controversial ruling on Internet billing practices.

But Clement, who was in Halifax today, says the federal government will quash the decision if CRTC officials return with the same plan following a review.

Commission chairman Konrad von Finckenstein told a Commons committee on Thursday that the introduction of usage-based billing for wholesale customers will be delayed for at least 60 days beyond the proposed March 1 start date.

Critics including Clement say the move would eliminate choice for consumers and harm small business.

Most residential Internet customers already have usage-based billing, but smaller providers were able to offer unlimited plans because they didn't pay by the gigabyte for the data they buy from larger companies.