Aug. 16
Cogeco Cable Inc.
Shaw Communications Inc.
Quebecor Media Inc.
Globalive Wireless Management Corp.
Xplornet Communications Inc.
Public Mobile
Aug. 17
EastLink
BCE Inc.
Mobilicity
Telus Communications Co.
Aug. 22
Rogers Communications Inc.
MTS Allstream
Aug. 24
SaskTel
While it is certainly a positive step that Paradis is engaged on the telecommunications file – the spectrum auction, foreign ownership, and digital strategy are all key issues – the list begs the question of whether meetings with public interest stakeholders are also planned. Groups such as PIAC, Open Media, CIPPIC and others deserve face time with the Minister to ensure that the decision-making process includes a public interest, consumer voice. There may be a diversity of views among the telcos on these issues (and among consumer groups), but if the government policy is ultimately about addressing concerns about the state of competition in the Canadian marketplace with a pro-consumer perspective, the Minister needs to actually speak to consumer groups, not just telecom companies.
Lessons to be gleaned ..
I’m certain the minister is concerned with the public voice on these issues, after all it was the public who elected him and his government. A few thoughts though on public opinion driving policy, there is both a need to listen and a caveat to be cautious.
I live in BC and recently we had a referendum on whether to keep or rescind the Harmonized Sales Tax [HST], the result released on Friday was 55% to rescind.
Like many here in BC I was torn on the issue … On one hand the tax made sense from a pure economics perspective, although it needed some adjustments such as the proposed 2% reduction. The other hand was appalled at the way this tax was deceptively implemented and the blatant hubris that accompanied it.
Without delving any more into details there are some lessons to discern from this debacle.
1) The public today is more aware, or easily made aware, of significant issues that affect them and increasingly able to come together to voice their opinion. Democracy no longer ends at the ballot booth exit.
2) Politicians must recognize the above and adjust their spins accordingly. Say what you mean and mean what you say. The old throw the playbook out after the election gambit now may prove hazardous to their ‘health’ sooner than expected.
3) The public is not always right. Popular opinion is defiantly something that should be considered, more so that it has been certainly, but like politicians the public may not always have the long term view in mind. Rule by plebiscite is an equally chaotic solution as the disinterested ‘leadership’.
Back to the recent BC issue, I would have preferred to keep the HST as I think it is good policy but would have then voted in the following provincial election to oust the sitting government for the way they implemented it.
So to those who are making the decisions for the rest of us I say this … keep your ear to the ground, your pockets buttoned closed and your view on the horizon.
I am, sadly, very cynical about all of this. With the current government fully in charge, appearances of working for the public are all but disapearing. What do an elected official cares about public concerns when he/she is promised a cushy job in some telco just afer his/her mandate? How often have we seen this happening? Whatever results come out of these closed consultations, be certain that they will not benefit us.
Public? What public?
If Mr. Paradis takes his orders from the same guy as James Moore I won’t hold my breath for public input.
Are the public interest groups ASKING to see the Minister? If not, they should be…
Teeth cutting
I think the minister will have to be exposed to a bit of public outrage before he opens up his office. I’m glad he’s making his “beginner’s mistakes” now maybe we’ll get lucky and have a seasoned minister by the end of the year.
@ Crockett
Seriously on the HST?
I’m a tech manufacturer and exporter and the damn thing nearly killed me! My prices to the US shot up considerably.
Friends that owned restaraunts went bankrupt because first thing that got cut out of budgets was going out and waitresses saw a HUGE drop in tips.
The only industry it helped was farm/agri.
Ignorance of the people is astounding.
@crockett
3) The public is not always right. Popular opinion is defiantly something that should be considered, more so that it has been certainly, but like politicians the public may not always have the long term view in mind. Rule by plebiscite is an equally chaotic solution as the disinterested ‘leadership’.
—
Given the prevalence of sociopaths in our political ranks I am very fearful of any leader who thinks he knows better than the public about what the public needs, and any system of government that allows him to make these types of changes in a lasting way.
HST
Guys…I am afraid this will be off topic, but weren’t there two separate taxes in BC prior to the HST? I know here in NL the HST brought our sales tax down even though it was included on more things. Maybe we are paying more in the long run, but it doesn’t seem like it when I would have paid 19% tax on cars and the HST dropped it to 15 and now 13. The cost would not be significant if you tax would only be 5 or 7 % increases unless the items were huge. I cannot see any restaurants going under because a person had to pay a couple bucks more on a meal. It never happened here.
Anyway….I digress. The fact that Minister Paradis is only meating with Telcos is disturbing. Some groups gathered petitions of almost 500,000 people. These should be met with as well to voice their opinions. Not doing so indicates that the minister will be swayed by the telcos at the expense of the consumer.
Petitions
@Pike:
Unfortunately, petitions, no matter how large, neither line the minister’s pocket nor fill his party’s coffers.
Big Telcos do.
@Un-Trusted Computing
“I think the minister will have to be exposed to a bit of public outrage before he opens up his office. I’m glad he’s making his “beginner’s mistakes” now maybe we’ll get lucky and have a seasoned minister by the end of the year.”
If the general public understood and was made aware of what was going on then maybe they would show some sort of outrage. As of now, the general public is ignorant of the issue and there, apathetic because of their lack of knowledge. People who read this blog are informed on issues involving the CRTC, Technology issues affecting Canada and the spectrum auction. These people do not represent the general public. The general public needs to be aware of this before they get angry and demand to be allowed to participate in the process. Ignorance is bliss and the Minister of industry knows this.
…
@Crockett: “Like many here in BC I was torn on the issue ..”
C’mon Crockett.. have a quick look here:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Taxation_in_Canada
on how tax burden has shifted over the years.
You’ll reach some interesting conclusions.
Nap.
…
Since “the public” is not bidding, I don’t see why we would be interested in how the bidding process is arranged by the participants. Unless, of course, there would be something illegal going on – like collusion or bribery. But that’s *already* illegal, there’s no need for more input on it.
What I would be really concerned of (as a member of the “public”) would be re-appropriation (i.e. stealing) of spectrum like here:
http://forums.qrz.com/showthread.php?263523-Industry-Canada-authorizes-commercial-activity-on-two-amateur-radio-bands
but it doesn’t seem to be the case this round.
Nap.