Rogers-Shaw deal to be scrutinized once again by House of Commons committee – National | globalnews.ca

House of Commons The Committee on Industry and Technology plans to commission another study of the proposed Rogers-Shaw merger.

Conservative MP Rick Perkins and New Democrat MP Brian Massey confirmed to the Canadian Press that the committee plans to meet on January 25 to review the proposed $26 billion transaction.

On 24 January the Federal Court of Appeal will hear the Competition Bureau’s appeal against a decision which cleared the way for this. Rogers Communication Inc. acquisition of shaw Communications Inc.

Masse told The Canadian Press that all political parties have agreed to call the committee meeting.

The Committee of Parliamentarians previously reviewed the potential merger in March and recommended against the transaction.

Now, they will conduct a second investigation into the deal, which has since changed to include the sale of Shaw-owned Freedom Mobile to Quebecor-owned Videotron Ltd.

Perkins said in an interview that parliament should have an opportunity to review the deal as it stands now, as the study done in March was of a previous version of the proposed transaction.

To proceed, the deal still needs approval from Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada.

And while that decision rests in the hands of Industry Minister Francois-Philippe Champagne, Perkins said the committee could provide “some useful perspective.”

“We can look at it from a very broad perspective of whether or not we think a particular deal harms competition,” he said.

Champagne has previously stated that it would not allow Rogers to acquire all of Shaw’s wireless licenses, suggesting that final approval for the merger would require concessions, including the sale of Freedom.

The minister has also indicated that he will take a decision only after there is clarity on the ongoing legal process.

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