Singh calls on Liberal government to stop dragging their feet on Rogers-Shaw

OTTAWA — Canada’s NDP Leader Jagmeet Singh said the Liberals need to stop the Rogers-Shaw merger before Friday’s deadline — not stall while higher cell phone and internet bills loom.

On Tuesday, Innovation, Science and Industry Minister François-Philippe Champagne said he is “not bound by any date” to stop the deal.

“Right now, Canadians’ cell phone bills are 25 times higher than people’s bills in other G7 countries. The lack of competition and choice means we are already getting ripped off, and the Roger-Shaw merger will hike bills even higher,” said Singh.

“People are shouldering a sky-high cost of living. It’s shocking that Minister Champagne is dragging his feet while the threat of higher cell phone bills gets closer and closer. Does this Liberal government not get that families can’t take another hit to their wallets?”

In addition to looming higher prices and layoffs, the Rogers-Shaw merger is already leading to less competition, less innovation and less choice for consumers. In preparation for this merger, independent ISPs have been bought out by big players, including Bell’s recent acquisitions of EBOX and Distributel.