In an industry dominated by technologies that are already global, protectionism may be doing us more harm than good –
The telecommunications industry in Canada may have among the world’s strictest foreign ownership rules, making it an easy target for criticism about the lack of competition and high prices, but it certainly didn’t at its inception.
Americans owned the Bell Telephone Co. of Canada when it was incorporated by a special act of Parliament in 1880. Legislators then — and for decades after — were apparently unfazed by foreign ownership in the quest to connect the country with telephone service.
Indeed, it wasn’t until the federal government enshrined the Telecommunications Act in 1993 that foreign ownership restrictions came into play. At that time, telecom had become entwined with broadcasting, where foreign ownership rules were seen as necessary to protect Canada’s culture.
Emily Jackson – National Post – July 24, 2018.
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