Don't sell out our telecommunications and media - Union activists to lobby<br>MPs this week

OTTAWA, Nov. 22 /CNW/ -The Communications, Energy and Paperworkers Union of Canada is sending a lobby team to Parliament Hill this week to convince MPs not to support the government's plan to loosen restrictions to foreign ownership in the telecommunications industry. 

On Tuesday and Wednesday, Nov. 23 and 24, about 25 CEP members and officers will meet with as many MPs and Senators.

"Our message is more foreign ownership in the telecommunications industry is wrong for Canada," says CEP President Dave Coles.  "And we intend to clear up the widespread misconceptions about the impact of more foreign ownership on pricing and competition."

"The government wants to use the myth that cell phones will be cheaper as a selling feature for their plan to open up our borders to more foreign competition."

CEP research shows that the Canadian telecommunications industry is currently more competitive than the rest of the world, and that prices for wireless will not be cheaper with more foreign ownership.*

"Removing existing restrictions is not only unnecessary, but potentially damaging. Jobs will be lost as operations will almost certainly be moved out of Canada, and -- with media and telecom being so deeply integrated -- keeping a Canadian voice in the media will be a challenge". Coles points out that the four largest television networks in Canada belong to a telecommunications company.

The Conservative government is widely expected to table a bill during this Parliamentary session that will affect the restrictions surrounding foreign investment and ownership of the telecommunications industry.

Industry Canada held hearings on this issue last summer, and set out three options for government consideration:

(1)	Increase the limit of foreign ownership in telecom and broadcasting companies from the current 20 per cent to 49 per cent;
(2)	Lift restrictions on telecommunications common carriers with a 10 per cent market share or less; and
(3)	Remove telecommunications restrictions completely.

On Nov. 24 at noon, following the lobby effort, CEP will hold a news conference in the Charles Lynch Press Conference Room, Room 130S Centre Block, Parliament Hill.

The Communications, Energy and Paperworkers Union of Canada is the largest union in several key sectors of Canada's economy, including forestry, energy, telecommunications and media.

*www.cep.ca

For further information:

Dave Coles [phone]