Mr. Speaker, increased competition in broadcasting by telephone companies will increase consumer choice and result in lower prices.
The people of British Columbia are in danger of losing these benefits because B.C. Telecom is partly foreign owned and therefore prohibited from holding a broadcast licence.
I urge the government to remove the relevant foreign ownership restrictions altogether to maximize benefits for consumers.
As a second best policy, I urge the government to permit B. C. Telecom to own a broadcasting licence by a special waiver of the foreign ownership restriction just like it has for the company's other activities.
The people of British Columbia would be sure to benefit greatly.