OTTAWA – In a letter to incumbent telcos and others involved in the recent review of Globalive’s ownership by the CRTC, Industry Minister Tony Clement has asked for even more information as he examines the Commission’s call on the prospective new wireless entrant.
On October 29 the CRTC decided that since Egypt-based Orascom Telecom owned 65% of the equity in Globalive and virtually all of the debt, that the company was not Canadian controlled and could not operate as a telecom company in Canada. Our Telecom Act says our telcos, cablecos and broadcasters have to be majority Canadian-owned and controlled.
The CRTC decision has angered many inside and beyond the wireless industry, especially since Industry Canada had decided that Globalive was Canadian enough – well over a year before the CRTC faced the issue. Others say it was the only decision that could come.
One key difference though was that while the CRTC held a public hearing into the ownership concerns, Industry Canada’s 2008 review was done behind closed doors.
And Minister Clement’s letter, sent to several participants last week, was not meant for public consumption and was sent to Cartt.ca on the condition the sender remain anonymous.
“As I have already mentioned publicly,” reads the three-paragraph letter, “I am in the process of carefully reviewing this ruling… Should you have further comments with respect to this matter, over and beyond what you have already submitted, I would appreciate receiving them by November 18, 2009.”
More to come.
– Greg O’Brien
