By Ahmad Hathout
OTTAWA – Innovation Minister Francois-Philippe Champagne said Monday during a House industry committee hearing that he is “no[t] near” a decision on the spectrum transfer from Shaw to Videotron that would trigger Rogers’s acquisition of Shaw.
The comments were made in a back-and-forth between Champagne and Conservative member of Parliament Ryan Williams, who was asserting that the conditions that the minister said were required on Videotron’s ownership of the Freedom assets – including spectrum ownership of at least 10 years and lower prices applied to other provinces – are not enforceable.
“That’s what you say, but trust me…you’ll be pleased,” Champagne said, before quickly clarifying that he has “not made a decision yet. We’ll see what happens, because like I said, I’m no near [sic] a decision; there will be a decision in due course.
“Whatever I say,” he added, “whatever is going to be applied will have to be fully enforceable.”
Champagne, who appeared before the committee to discuss his mandate, also brushed away suggestions that he’s against the clock because Rogers, Shaw and Videotron agreed to push back their closing date this Friday. He said that he’s the minister and he’ll make a decision when he’s ready.
In his company’s first quarter conference call earlier this month, Rogers president and CEO Tony Staffieri said the company has enough money to delay the closing of the deal until the end of the year.
MP Williams was one of the signatories on a letter to Champagne urging him not to make a decision on the transfer until the CRTC makes a decision on a petition by TekSavvy to examine Rogers’s promise to provide Videotron with favourable wholesale rates compared to competitors and a “free and open” process is held for Freedom.
Days before the letter was sent, the committee heard again from witnesses involved in the Rogers-Shaw deal, with members of Parliament expressing bafflement that Rogers got to choose Videotron as the suitor for Freedom in the deal.
Screenshot of Innovation Minister Francois-Philippe Champagne at committee on Monday
