By Canadian Press

House of Commons committee says Rogers’ proposed takeover of Shaw should not proceed

Mar 4, 2022 | 2:25 PM

A parliamentary committee says a proposed multibillion-dollar takeover of one of Canada’s largest telecoms should not proceed.

The House of Commons industry and technology committee says, if Rogers Communications Inc.’s $26-billion bid for Shaw Communications Inc. does go ahead, the government should make its conditions attached to the approval “fully enforceable.”

In a report on the proposed merger that was tabled Friday, the committee recommends the affordability and accessibility interests of Canadians should take precedence over all other considerations during the regulatory review process.

The non-binding report says the government should place an emphasis on the importance of Freedom Mobile, Shaw’s wireless carrier, as a fourth wireless provider that competes with the Big Three of Rogers, Bell, and Telus.

The report came a day after Ottawa pledged to block the wholesale transfer of Shaw’s wireless licences to Rogers as part of the deal.

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The deal is under review by three different federal regulators including the Competition Bureau and the CRTC as well as spectrum regulator Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada (ISED).

This report by The Canadian Press was first published March 4, 2022.

Companies in this story: (TSX:QBR.B, TSX:RCI.B, TSX:SJR.B, TSX:T)