Opponents of Alliance sale flag poll results by Rita Trichur
Source : Toronto Star
Canadians fear foreign ownership of domestic media, survey finds
December 6, 2007
Critics opposing the buyout of Alliance Atlantis Communications Inc. by CanWest Global Communications Corp. and its American partner stepped up their protest with a new poll suggesting that most Canadians believe cultural sovereignty ought to trump foreign ownership of domestic media.
ACTRA, the Communications, Energy and Paperworkers Union of Canada and Friends of Canadian Broadcasting released the results yesterday to jumpstart a debate on the touchy issue of Canadian cultural identity at a time when the federal broadcast regulator is still reviewing the deal.
Their poll suggests that 66 per cent of respondents "believe broadcasting and communications are too important to our national security and cultural sovereignty to allow foreign control of Canadian companies in this sector."
Stephen Waddell, national executive director of ACTRA, said the $2.3 billion takeover of Alliance Atlantis by CanWest and New York-based investment bank Goldman Sachs & Co. is "foreign ownership by the back door." Goldman Sachs is funding 64 per cent of the acquisition price but CanWest plans to control Alliance Atlantis through a majority of voting shares.
"What in fact happens in boardrooms of Goldman Sachs and CanWest Global is not going to be seen by the public and that is where the real power is exercised," Waddell said.
Goldman Sachs has already assured the Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission that it is not eyeing control of any Canadian broadcaster. The CRTC held hearings on the takeover last month and will likely issue a decision in early 2008.
Pointing to the poll's other key finding, Waddell said 82 per cent of Canadians agree it is important for the federal government to maintain and build a culture and identity "distinct" from the United States.
Also taking a jab at the government-appointed panel reviewing federal competition laws, he expressed concern that Ottawa might "relax or eliminate" the current 46.7 per cent foreign ownership limit on broadcasting and telecommunications companies.
That panel - headed by Lynton (Red) Wilson, chair of CAE Inc. and a former chief executive of BCE Inc. - was appointed in July amid mounting criticism that foreign takeovers are "hollowing out" this country's corporate landscape. The group also plans to examine whether foreign ownership restrictions in protected sectors, such as telecommunications, discourage competition.
The findings were gathered in telephone interviews conducted between Nov. 15 and 25 by Harris/Decima. They are based on a randomly selected sample of 2,052 Canadians with a margin of error of plus or minus 2.2 per cent, 19 times out of 20. Neither Goldman Sachs nor CanWest could be reached for comment.
© Toronto Star
ACTRA, the Communications, Energy and Paperworkers Union of Canada and Friends of Canadian Broadcasting released the results yesterday to jumpstart a debate on the touchy issue of Canadian cultural identity at a time when the federal broadcast regulator is still reviewing the deal.
Their poll suggests that 66 per cent of respondents "believe broadcasting and communications are too important to our national security and cultural sovereignty to allow foreign control of Canadian companies in this sector."
Stephen Waddell, national executive director of ACTRA, said the $2.3 billion takeover of Alliance Atlantis by CanWest and New York-based investment bank Goldman Sachs & Co. is "foreign ownership by the back door." Goldman Sachs is funding 64 per cent of the acquisition price but CanWest plans to control Alliance Atlantis through a majority of voting shares.
"What in fact happens in boardrooms of Goldman Sachs and CanWest Global is not going to be seen by the public and that is where the real power is exercised," Waddell said.
Goldman Sachs has already assured the Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission that it is not eyeing control of any Canadian broadcaster. The CRTC held hearings on the takeover last month and will likely issue a decision in early 2008.
Pointing to the poll's other key finding, Waddell said 82 per cent of Canadians agree it is important for the federal government to maintain and build a culture and identity "distinct" from the United States.
Also taking a jab at the government-appointed panel reviewing federal competition laws, he expressed concern that Ottawa might "relax or eliminate" the current 46.7 per cent foreign ownership limit on broadcasting and telecommunications companies.
That panel - headed by Lynton (Red) Wilson, chair of CAE Inc. and a former chief executive of BCE Inc. - was appointed in July amid mounting criticism that foreign takeovers are "hollowing out" this country's corporate landscape. The group also plans to examine whether foreign ownership restrictions in protected sectors, such as telecommunications, discourage competition.
The findings were gathered in telephone interviews conducted between Nov. 15 and 25 by Harris/Decima. They are based on a randomly selected sample of 2,052 Canadians with a margin of error of plus or minus 2.2 per cent, 19 times out of 20. Neither Goldman Sachs nor CanWest could be reached for comment.
© Toronto Star
Related Documents:
December 5, 2007 - Opinion Poll - Foreign Ownership of Canadian Media and Communications
Poll results show allowing foreign interests to control Canadian media and telecom companies may be a poor strategy for Conservative growth.
December 5, 2007 - News Release - National security & cultural sovereignty trump foreign ownership of Canadian media - Keep it Canadian
Poll results show that most voters believe broadcasting and communications are too important to national security and cultural sovereignty to allow foreign control of Canadian media companies.
December 5, 2007 - Opinion Poll - Foreign Ownership of Canadian Broadcasting and Telephone Companies
Executive Summary of a Harris/Decima poll commissioned by Friends of Canadian Broadcasting, ACTRA, and the Communications, Energy and Paperworkers Union of Canada
December 5, 2007 - Interview - Business News Network, Squeeze Play
Ian Morrison, FRIENDS spokesperson, speaks to hosts Amanda Lang and Kevin O'Leary about foreign ownership of Canadian media companies.
December 5, 2007 - Photos - Keep it Canadian Event
Photos from the Keep it Canadian event in Calgary, Alberta
Poll results show allowing foreign interests to control Canadian media and telecom companies may be a poor strategy for Conservative growth.
December 5, 2007 - News Release - National security & cultural sovereignty trump foreign ownership of Canadian media - Keep it Canadian
Poll results show that most voters believe broadcasting and communications are too important to national security and cultural sovereignty to allow foreign control of Canadian media companies.
December 5, 2007 - Opinion Poll - Foreign Ownership of Canadian Broadcasting and Telephone CompaniesExecutive Summary of a Harris/Decima poll commissioned by Friends of Canadian Broadcasting, ACTRA, and the Communications, Energy and Paperworkers Union of Canada
December 5, 2007 - Interview - Business News Network, Squeeze PlayIan Morrison, FRIENDS spokesperson, speaks to hosts Amanda Lang and Kevin O'Leary about foreign ownership of Canadian media companies.
December 5, 2007 - Photos - Keep it Canadian EventPhotos from the Keep it Canadian event in Calgary, Alberta
