As Rogers-Shaw deadline arrives, Ottawa set for announcement on telecom – National | Globalnews.ca

The federal government is set to make a telecom announcement amid a pending deadline about the proposed $26-billion merger of Rogers Communications Inc. and Shaw Communications Inc.

Industry Minister Francois-Philippe Champagne will make an announcement Friday morning on  “competitiveness in the telecommunications sector,” according to a media advisory that did not mention the Rogers-Shaw deal.

However, his announcement comes on the same day as the closing deadline of the multi-billion dollar merger.

The deal was originally scheduled to close by the end of 2022, but the deadline has been pushed multiple times over the past year awaiting final approvals.

Champagne had said earlier in January that a decision about the proposed takeover will be made “in due course.”

He told a committee in February that he was “not near a decision” and does not feel bound by the companies’ deadlines.

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Telecommunications ‘need more competition,’ Poilievre says after Rogers-Shaw deal clears hurdle

Ottawa’s decision whether to approve the takeover will focus on making sure it will provide more competition and affordability for Canadians, Champagne has previously said.

The deal has already gotten the green light from the Canada Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission, as well as the Competition Tribunal.

Shaw Communications and Corus Entertainment, the parent company of Global News, are owned by the Shaw family based in Calgary.

— With files from Global News’ Craig Lord

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