“There be dragons” was a standard admonition in days of yore to mariners at the edges of the known universe. Uncertainty, fear, doubt and maybe even dragons populated the edges of maps. This paper explores the parallel unknown represented by foreign ownership of Canadian telecommunications companies.

The Canadian Government is considering changes to the limits on foreign ownership in Canada’s telecommunications sector. The Minister of Industry, Tony Clement, has circulated a discussion document that offers three options: minor adjustments, with foreign companies still not allowed control of Canadian telecom carriers;
removal of restrictions on foreign ownership for all but the largest of Canada’s telecom companies; and removal of all restrictions.

SeaBoard looks at some of the key messages made in the resulting submissions to Government, and we argue that the second two options make the most sense for the country: both alternatives would result in a healthier, more dynamic marketplace driving more consumer benefit.

We contend that the time has come to put our xenophobia behind us. It is time to welcome foreign participation in the Canadian telecoms marketplace.