TELUS Statement

VANCOUVER, Aug. 27, 2013 /CNW/ - This afternoon at 3:45 p.m. PT, Darren Entwistle, TELUS President & CEO released the following statement:

"If media reports are accurate, it is unfortunate that the government has chosen to not convene a Parliamentary Committee on an issue that is of critical importance to all Canadians. We respect the NDP's efforts to have an open and transparent discussion on this issue and we encourage Ottawa to reflect, open up the conversation and listen to what so many voices in Canada are saying to them. Recent polls clearly show the vast majority of Canadians are aligned with TELUS' perspective that new competition should be welcomed but that the same rules should apply to foreign and domestic companies in the upcoming auction of Canadian wireless spectrum. TELUS welcomes competition from foreign companies and, indeed, we have been on the record since 2001 calling for foreign ownership restrictions to be lifted. Certainly, as numerous, diverse organizations such as Canada's largest unions, the Canadian Taxpayers Federation and the Fraser Institute have stated, applying the same rules to both foreign and domestic firms is the best way to promote healthy competition that would be in the best interest of all Canadians. Giving Verizon or another foreign company a two-for-one advantage in the auction of these airwaves is unjust and harmful to Canadians, especially pensioners and people in rural communities. Moreover, it is not consistent with the intrinsic belief Canadians have in fairness. It is not too late for the government to consider the prevailing voice of Canadians and establish a level playing field in the upcoming spectrum auction."

SOURCE: TELUS Corporation

Shawn Hall
TELUS
[phone] (o)