Thank you, Mr. Chair.
Thank you to all the witnesses appearing today and thank you to my colleagues. I'm joining you from Mission—Matsqui—Fraser Canyon, where Shaw has a major presence.
My constituents are really struggling with the cost of living right now. As their representative, I am coming forward on their behalf today. They're asking me, “Brad, will this merger result in a more affordable Internet bill and a more affordable cellphone bill?” I'm not necessarily sure it will. However, I'm also highly suspicious of Rogers' claim that it is going to invest $6 billion in western Canada in the rural and indigenous communities that I represent.
During the pandemic, a mother who lives in Hatzic Valley and is still on Shaw's dial-up Internet asked me, “Brad, why won't Shaw simply cross the road and extend the line to my house?” They haven't done so, and they've failed to use the spectrum they received from auction to the benefit of Canadians who rely on this essential service. I'm approaching everything that I say in my remaining four minutes or so with that.
Dr. Keating, Shaw Internet customers right now.... I'll just ask what prices will be available to the two million existing Shaw Internet customers who today get zero-dollar talk and text and a $25, 25-gigabyte plan. Is Rogers planning on going down to those prices, or should those Shaw customers expect—if this merger goes through—something similar to the Rogers prices, which are, I believe, at $35 and $85, respectively?