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OTTAWA – The Harper government can see the writing on the wall with

regard to foreign ownership in the telecommunications sector,” says the

president of Canada’s largest telecommunications union.



“Today’s comments from Industry Minister Tony Clement are a clear

indication that the government does not have the public or political

support to loosen foreign ownership restrictions in the

telecommunications sector, so it is postponing a decision until after a

federal election, instead of doing the right thing which is to kill the

idea.”



Mr. Clement said he will postpone any decision until he considers how to

structure a planned 2012 auction of new wireless frequencies for mobile

phones. “By spring of next year, I will be in a position to assess how

all these elements fit together and decide on the best way forward,” he

said.



But Communications, Energy and Paperworkers Union President Dave Coles

says “linking foreign ownership to the availability of spectrum is just

a manoeuvre to avoid making a decision.”



“The premise that we need more foreign companies to compete for

available spectrum is false. We already have 11 Canadian companies using

the available spectrum and there is no need for foreign companies to

join the fray, nor is there any evidence that allowing foreign companies

to enter the process will be of any benefit to consumers.”



“Wireless prices in Canada are already competitive internationally, and

our country has more competition in this sector than any other except

the U.S.”



This week, CEP will be lobbying MPs on Parliament Hill on the subject of

loosening foreign ownership restrictions in the telecommunications

sector. “We have solid evidence that this is a bad idea for Canada,”

says Coles.



MORE INFORMATION – Dave Coles (613) 299-5628