The Bloc Québécois is the only opposition party that is delighted with the green light given Friday to the agreement of more than 20 billion between Rogers, Shaw and Quebecor, a decision that the Conservative Party and the NDP denounce in unison.
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In a statement released hours after Friday’s announcement, the Conservatives slammed a “bad deal for Canadians” that “won’t increase competition and leave Canadians with fewer choices, lower quality service and higher bills. high”.
The three-party agreement, which is the largest in the telecommunications sector in Canadian history, provides for the purchase of Shaw’s cable television network by Rogers, as well as the purchase by Videotron of Freedom Mobile, Shaw’s mobile telephone subsidiary. .
In slightly different language, NDP Leader Jagmeet Singh denounced the acquisition of Shaw by Rogers as proof that the Liberals are “taking the side of the rich and powerful at the expense of the interests of working people.”
“Right now Rogers and Shaw CEOs Tony Staffieri and Bradley Shaw are pouring champagne and toasting the Liberal government for the helping hand it has given them,” Singh said per communicated.
In his view, reform of competition laws and price caps are necessary to “promote competition” in the market.
On the other hand, the Bloc Québécois sees “with a very positive eye” the expansion of Quebecor outside the borders of the province.
MNA Kristina Michaud described as “reasonable” the conditions imposed by the Minister of Innovation, François-Philippe Champagne.
“We know what we wanted in the Bloc Québécois: healthy competition, and that’s kind of what’s happening. And in addition, a Quebec company, Videotron, which will expand across Canada,” she said.
Minister Champagne also imposed a series of written conditions on Videotron to take control of Freedom Mobile, the most important being a 20% drop in prices on the telephony market.