Champagne’s Rogers-Shaw decision to come ‘only after’ there’s clarity in legal battle

Canada’s Industry Minister says he’ll render his determination on Rogers Communications Inc.’s proposed $26-billion buy of Shaw Communications Inc. solely after there may be readability within the ongoing authorized battle.

The Saturday assertion from Francois-Philippe Champagne comes days after the Competition Tribunal dismissed an utility from Canada’s competitors watchdog in search of to dam the takeover, a choice the Competition Bureau says it is interesting.

Champagne says he’ll evaluate the tribunal’s determination and can situation his separate determination “only after there is clarity in the ongoing legal process.”

The minister rejected in October the wholesale switch of wi-fi spectrum licences from Shaw to Rogers, with Shaw’s possession of Freedom Mobile broadly thought-about a predominant hurdle to federal approval.

At the time, Champagne left the door open to a revised deal that would come with the sale of Freedom Mobile to Quebecor Inc.’s Videotron Ltd. underneath two main circumstances.

Videotron must comply with preserve Freedom’s wi-fi licences for a minimum of 10 years and the minister would “expect to see” wi-fi costs in Ontario and Western Canada lowered in step with the corporate’s Quebec choices.

“What remains before me is the separate request to transfer spectrum licences from Shaw to Quebecor. Promoting competition and affordability in the telecom sector is one of my top priorities. That position has not changed,” Champagne stated.

This report by The Canadian Press was first revealed Dec. 31, 2022.