OTTAWA, Aug. 16, 2013 /CNW/ - The Communications, Energy and Paperworkers Union of Canada is calling on the Harper government to rescind advantages offered to Verizon Communications to set up as a fourth major carrier and to instead establish a Crown Corporation to fulfill this objective.
"When wireless 'spectrum' is a hot topic at summer barbecues you know the government's telecommunications policy is a mess," says CEP President Dave Coles. "To get out of a crisis it's important for a government to be able to think 'outside the box' and setting up a public Telco company would be a smart way to do just that."
"Instead of giving a slew of benefits to a gigantic US-based corporation that will take the jobs, expertise and profits out of the country, why not set up a Crown telecommunications company that will hire Canadians, build on this country's impressive history in the sector and return the surplus to the public?" Asks Coles.
"If the government is intent on providing consumers with a fourth major carrier in each market it should acquire one of the struggling small telcos, reserve some of the available 700 MHz spectrum for public use and establish 'Canada Wireless' as a Crown Corporation," says Coles.
Such a move would not be as innovative as it may seem. In 2007 the government of New Zealand bought a small Internet provider in a bid to strengthen the country's telecommunications sector. Similarly, SaskTel is the leading communications provider in that province and it has led the way on many technological and service advancements.
If Industry Canada Minister James Moore doesn't trust a union leader's opinion on setting up a Crown Corporation he can call conservative Saskatchewan Premier Brad Wall to ask him about the many benefits of a public telecommunications operator," says Coles.
SOURCE: COMMUNICATIONS, ENERGY AND PAPERWORKERS UNION OF CANADA
Dave Coles, 613-299-5628
Share this article