sa国际传媒's Industry Minister says he will render his decision on Rogers Communications Inc.鈥檚 proposed $26-billion purchase of Shaw Communications Inc. only after there is clarity in the ongoing legal battle.
The Saturday statement from Francois-Philippe Champagne comes days after the Competition Tribunal dismissed an application from sa国际传媒鈥檚 competition watchdog seeking to block the takeover, a decision the Competition Bureau says it鈥檚 appealing.聽
Champagne says he will review the tribunal鈥檚 decision and will issue his separate decision 鈥渙nly after there is clarity in the ongoing legal process.鈥澛�
The minister rejected in October the wholesale transfer of wireless spectrum licences from Shaw to Rogers, with Shaw鈥檚 ownership of Freedom Mobile widely considered a main hurdle to federal approval.聽
At the time, Champagne left the door open to a revised deal that would include the sale of Freedom Mobile to Quebecor Inc.鈥檚 Videotron Ltd. under two major conditions.
Videotron would have to agree to keep Freedom鈥檚 wireless licences for at least 10 years and the minister would 鈥渆xpect to see'' wireless prices in Ontario and Western sa国际传媒 lowered in line with the company鈥檚 Quebec offerings.聽
"What remains before me is the separate request to transfer spectrum licences from Shaw to Quebecor. Promoting competition and affordability in the telecom sector is one of my top priorities. That position has not changed," Champagne said.聽
This report by The Canadian Press was first published Dec. 31, 2022.
Companies in this story: (TSX:RCI.B, TSX:SJR.B, TSX:QBR.B)
The Canadian Press
