Conservatives call for hearing on proposed purchase of Shaw by Rogers

Conservative MP Pierre Poilievre issued a press release on Tuesday evening calling on Parliament to host a hearing to investigate the proposed purchase of Shaw Communications by Rogers Communications.

"Some argue the Rogers-Shaw deal means more investment, others that it means less competition," the press release reads. "The only way to know for sure is through careful study and intense debate."

Poilievre noted in his press release that the Canadian telecommunications market is "not a free market but a protected regulated system, where government agencies try to do what open competition would normally do."

The telecommunications industry in Canada is dominated by four companies: Rogers, Bell, Telus, and Shaw. Critics of the Rogers-Shaw deal argue that it will further centralize an already highly oligopolistic industry while supporters of the deal note that Rogers and Shaw primarily operate in separate regions of the country and would not impact competition.

"That system has not served Canada particularly well and has left us with higher prices and millions of Canadians who cannot access high-speed internet to run their businesses or have their kids participate in online learning," Poilievre continued.

Poilievre argued that the impact of such a deal on Canadians is now more important than ever, citing the impact of the coronavirus pandemic and the subsequent surge in people working from home. "If some communities cannot get fast, affordable connections, their people will be left behind," he asserted.

He noted that contrarily, better access to faster and more affordable internet could produce positive results in remote and Indigenous communities. To "secure our future, we need the best digital connection at the best price."

Rogers announced on Tuesday that it has struck a deal with Shaw to purchase the company for $26 billion. The deal requires the approval of regulators, courts, and shareholders before it can ultimately go through, however.