OTTAWA – It remains to be seen how far Canada will crack open the door to foreign investment for our telecommunications companies.
Despite hints from Governor-General Michaelle Jean during Wednesday’s throne speech that the Government would loosen regulations around the entire telecom industry, Thursday’s new Federal Budget only mentioned Canada’s satellite telecommunications sector by name.
“Consistent with the recommendations of the Competition Policy Review Panel, the Government is acting in Budget 2010 to remove the existing restrictions on foreign ownership of Canadian satellites”, it reads. “This will allow firms to access foreign capital and know-how and to invest in new and advanced…
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“About a month later at a cable show in San Antonio, I bumped into an engineering legend named Israel Switzer, who worked for years at Maclean Hunter Cable. He was now consulting to upstart U.S. long-distance competitor MCI Communications. I knew and respected him a great deal.
“Israel asked me about cellular and what my plans were. I told him I was looking into it. He said he thought it was the future of telecommunications and urged me to get in before it was too late. I had to pay attention to a statement like that from a man of…
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OTTAWA – In Wednesday’s Speech from the Throne to open the latest, much delayed, session of Parliament, the federal government has committed itself to allow more foreign investment in telecom and satellite in Canada.
While saying the government “will launch a digital economy strategy to drive the adoption of new technology across the economy. To encourage new ideas and protect the rights of Canadians whose research, development and artistic creativity contribute to Canada’s prosperity,” and that “our Government will also strengthen laws governing intellectual property and copyright,” (Read: Yet another stab at copyright reform, sigh…) the speech also said the…
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MONTREAL – With Parliament set to resume next week, the Liberal Party is calling on Prime Minister Harper to preserve the foreign ownership rules for Canadian broadcasting companies.
In an open letter that specifically references Industry Canada’s decision to overturn the CRTC’s ownership decision on Globalive, the Liberals said that any revisions to the Telecommunications Act must be debated in the House of Commons, and not “on the sly”.
“Any consideration of the Telecommunications Act must be done in the open, transparently and in consultation with Canadians,” said Liberal Critic for Industry, Science and Technology, Marc Garneau, in a statement. “We must…
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TORONTO – There is “hidden money” available for film and TV productions made in Canada, says the audit, tax and advisory firm KPMG.
The organization has detailed tax incentives and other funding available to help film and television production in a global publication called Film Financing and Television Programming – A Taxation Guide (Fifth Edition).
"These incentives, including refundable tax credits, may not be widely known to newcomers to the film and television industry," said Ryan Friedman, a tax partner with KPMG in Canada’s communications and media practice. "This ‘hidden money’, along with incentives from film commissions in various provinces and…
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DON’T MISS THE CHANCE to learn more about new developments in communications law and policy.
Geared towards lawyers but also ideal for industry executives and government officials, the 15th Biennial National Conference: New Developments in Communications Law and Policy will include an array of plenary and concurrent lectures and panel sessions canvassing current issues.
Organizers have added an event for newer communications lawyers. Click here to visit its event page on Facebook.
Offered by The Law Society of Upper Canada in association with the Canadian Bar Association, the 2010 symposium is scheduled for April 23 – 24, 2010 at…
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BARCELONA and TORONTO – Rogers will become the first Canadian wireless provider to offer the new Acer Liquid e smart phone device.
The Acer Liquid e features the latest Android 2.1 operating system, a 3.5” high definition display, and advanced new features and functionality. The device will be available exclusively from Rogers beginning this spring.
“Rogers is very excited to be partnering with a highly respected global brand like Acer to bring the Acer Liquid e to Canadian consumers”, said John Boynton, EVP of marketing, in the announcement. “By exclusively launching the first Acer smart phone in Canada, we are once…
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OTTAWA – CRTC chair Konrad von Finckenstein said Friday the regulator had “made a mistake” in eliminating Canadian content spending requirements for over-the-air broadcasters back in 1999.
Speaking in conversation with broadcast veteran Trina McQueen during the CFTPA Prime Time in Ottawa conference, von Finckenstein added, “It doesn’t make sense.”
However, the chair noted that the system “can’t turn back.” While failing to confirm expenditures would be revived in upcoming regulation, it looks like the CRTC is heading that way.
McQueen noted that the CRTC should not want “to make the same mistake over again” (by not changing the rules).
Can’t the amount…
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TORONTO – Goldman Sachs has thrown its support behind a new proposal to restructuring Canwest Global Communications and bring it out of bankruptcy protection.
A group led by Toronto-based investment fund Catalyst Capital which includes the Asper family, former Rogers Broadcasting chief Rael P. Merson and John Tory, announced today that they have submitted to the Canwest Special Committee a restructuring proposal to facilitate the company’s emergence from the CCAA process.
The proposal requires no material amendments to the original court filed plan and would maximize the value of the Canwest estate while expediting its exit from the CCAA process as…
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OTTAWA – The Canadian Association of Broadcasters will close its doors permanently this June.
CAB board chair Elmer Hildebrand confirmed the news to Cartt.ca after notifying members on Wednesday.
With the majority of the group’s television membership already planning to leave the association when he was appointed in December, Hildebrand said that he focused on trying to remake the organization into one that represented radio broadcasters only.
“That, for a variety or reasons, both practical and legal, didn’t work, and so it was decided to close the organization as it exists today”, he told Cartt.ca in a telephone interview. “Simultaneously, I’m…
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