Canada’s industry minister has said he will only make a decision on the proposed $26 billion purchase of Shaw Communications by Rogers Communications after the ongoing legal battle has been clarified.
Saturday’s statement by Francois-Philippe Champagne comes days after the Competition Tribunal rejected a request from Canada’s competition watchdog to block the takeover, a decision the Competition Bureau will appeal.
Minister Champagne says he will reconsider the court’s decision and issue a separate decision “only after having more clarity on the legal process underway”.
The minister in October rejected the transfer of wireless spectrum licenses from Shaw to Rogers, with Shaw’s ownership of Freedom Mobile seen as a major obstacle to federal approval.
At the time, Mr. Champagne left the door open to a revised agreement that would include the sale of Freedom Mobile to Quebecor’s Videotron under two major conditions.
Videotron should agree to keep Freedom’s wireless licenses for at least 10 years and the minister would “expect to see” wireless prices in Ontario and Western Canada drop based on the company’s Quebec offers .
“All that remains is for me to consider the separate request to transfer spectrum licenses from Shaw to Quebecor. Promoting competition and affordability in telecommunications is one of my top priorities. This position has not changed,” Champagne said.
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