Is it illegal to buy a phone outright from Telus?

I asked two different Telus locations in the polo park mall, if i could buy a Pixel 6 outright.

Both locations refused, they said the CRTC enacted a new law that prevented selling the phone outright and could only be bought on a two year contract, and they could lose their jobs if they sold the phone outright.

Is this legit,? it seems like a money grab.