Mr. Speaker, with the takeover of Maclean Hunter by Rogers a monopoly has been created that will have a profound effect on Canada in the years to come. Never before in the history of Canadian cultural industries has a development of this magnitude occurred.
This one company will now not only control a string of newspapers, magazines and radio stations but it will virtually control cable. One individual through his company has become the private owner of the information highway in Canada, controlling who gets on and what we will see.
This is not a great day for the free flow of information and ideas, for competition and for the Canadian entertainment industry. This deal is a turning point in Canada's technological and cultural future.
It is simply not good enough for the government to hide behind the CRTC and the competition review panel. It must develop its own position.
I urge the government to establish a parliamentary committee so that there is an open process to determine what is in the nation's interest when it comes to the ownership of our information highway.