Thank you, Mr. Champoux, for giving me a chance to discuss that.
The first auction that the Department of Industry held further to the new competition policy paved the way for new entrants, defined as new operators, which were able to take advantage of set-asides. The policy was very successful in Quebec, where a fourth competitor emerged. The Atlantic provinces saw something similar with Bragg Communications Inc., which is still operating today.
Unfortunately, that wasn't the case in the rest of Canada, from Ontario to British Columbia. Here's why: the companies that took part in the auctions outside Quebec were largely foreign-owned. Their main focus was money. Battles over ownership ensued, culminating in Shaw's purchase of Wind Mobile, which became Freedom Mobile.
When Shaw first took over Freedom, it opened up a much more competitive environment. People in Alberta, Ontario and British Columbia benefited from more competitive and innovative offerings.
All of that came to an end, unfortunately, with the Shaw–Rogers deal, which will close the door to other operators. There won't be a fourth competitor. Quite the opposite, it will be mergers and acquisitions all around. For years and years, we've seen how this oligopoly works. Prices are lower in Quebec and in the Atlantic provinces, but they're higher everywhere else in Canada. That same thing will happen again.
We are talking about an industry that is crucial to Canadians and to the wireless sector. Given where the economy has taken us, there is no way we can compete globally without a competitive wireless industry.
That is the issue here. That is the issue we are raising with the CRTC, the Department of Industry and Competition Bureau Canada.