Petition Opposing Rogers-Shaw Merger Surpasses 61,000 Signatures

In a press release published on Friday, OpenMedia, a civil advocate for cheaper cellular and internet in Canada, announced that it (and other civil society groups) has surpassed 61,000+ Canadians in its petition against the recently announced Rogers-Shaw buyout.

Estimated to be worth around $26 billion CAD, Rogers’ buyout of Shaw Communications will is said to be good for investors, but is also certain to drive cellular and wireless prices in Canada even higher.

Shaw is the fourth largest telco in the country, and its assimilation into Rogers will further decrease competition in the already monopolized industry.

According to the press release, OpenMedia and a number of other civil society groups have issued a joint statement, warning Canadians of the merger’s dire implications, encouraging them to speak out, and along with their 61,000+ signatories, urging the Competition Bureau, Innovation, Science and Economic Development Minister Champagne, and federal government to intervene and block the merger.

OpenMedia has explicitly protested the Rogers-Shaw merger, and the fact that its petition for government action against the deal has garnered so much support in such little time goes to show that the Canadian people clearly stand in the opposition.

Rogers and Shaw have testified to Members of the Parliament that the deal will increase competition in the industry, but consumer groups and even members of the government believe otherwise.

While a decision on the Rogers-Shaw merger has not been made as of yet, ISED Minister Champagne has said on record that competition is “important” to the Canadian government.

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