The Globe and Mail reports in its Wednesday, July 23, edition that the Harper government has targeted the telecommunications industry with inflated or false accusations. The Globe's Jeffrey Simpson writes that unlike the oil industry, which the government defends to the hilt, the telecommunications industry has been subjected to constant attacks for excessively high prices, not enough competition and too-high roaming rates.
The Tory government has bragged that its policies are bringing prices down. Mr. Simpson says, however, Ottawa's attempts to bring additional competition by restructuring the industry have failed miserably.
New entrants were supposed to stand on their feet and compete fairly and fully with Rogers Communications, Telus and BCE's Bell Canada. The widespread belief that Canadian telecommunications prices are far too high lies somewhere between a stretch and a falsehood, says Mr. Simpson. Facts aside, Mr. Simpson says the public believes in the narrative of excessively greedy companies. That is the narrative, facts and careful comparisons aside, that the government delights in repeating, posing -- and it is a political posture -- as the defender of the beleaguered consumer.
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