10 ms·

Eh? Telecom networks were always privately owned in Canada and the US. They were never privatized.

by b112 4y ago

goosedragons 4y ago
No. Telus was formed from the privatization of Alberta Government Telephones. MTS was previously a crown corp for telecom in Manitoba but was later privatized and then bought by Bell. Saskatchewan still has their telecom crown corp SaskTel, although there has been rumblings of privatizing it.
- ulrashida 4y ago
  Thankfully that matter was resolved back in 2018 when Bill 40 was repealed. Saskatchewan has plenty of evidence from other provinces what happens when natural monopolies are privatized.
- b112 4y ago
  Fair enough, I see I am off about Telus, and I presume Sasktel. Still, I seldom get the complaints. Our industry is private, but heavily regulated. Yes, there are bumps over the years, and the CRTC at times is not optimal, but the whole "must lease last mile" thing is part of that regulation. A mix of public control, and private industry can work well. To speak to that, Bell, Rogers constantly squrim and writhe, under their forced requirement to lease to competitors. They hate it, which to me means it can't be all bad.
  - ulrashida 4y ago
    They're very good at managing that image, it's true. It's hard to believe that we're in an equitable spot as consumers with reports showing the big three are among the most profitable telcos in the world. That's not even starting in on the obvious price coordination that highlights the dearth of competition in the sector.
ulrashida 4y ago
Incorrect. Saskatchewan (SaskTel), Manitoba (Bell MTS, now sold), and Alberta (AGT, sold) maintained crown corporations for telecom.
- moberley 4y ago
  In Ontario there was the Dryden Municipal Telephone System and the Thunder Bay Telephone Company (now Tbaytel). DMTS was sold but Tbaytel remains owned by the City of Thunder Bay and provides service to various parts of Northwestern Ontario. And Terra Nova Tel which provided phone service in parts of Newfoundland was built on the legacy of the former Dominion of Newfoundland Department of Posts and Telephones by Canadian National while the latter was still a federal crown corporation.

Eh? Telecom networks were always privately owned in Canada and the US. They were never privatized.

by b112 4y ago

Eh? Telecom networks were always privately owned in Canada and the US. They were never privatized.

No. Telus was formed from the privatization of Alberta Government Telephones. MTS was previously a crown corp for telecom in Manitoba but was later privatized and then bought by Bell. Saskatchewan still has their telecom crown corp SaskTel, although there has been rumblings of privatizing it.

ulrashida 4y ago
Thankfully that matter was resolved back in 2018 when Bill 40 was repealed. Saskatchewan has plenty of evidence from other provinces what happens when natural monopolies are privatized.
b112 4y ago
Fair enough, I see I am off about Telus, and I presume Sasktel. Still, I seldom get the complaints. Our industry is private, but heavily regulated. Yes, there are bumps over the years, and the CRTC at times is not optimal, but the whole "must lease last mile" thing is part of that regulation. A mix of public control, and private industry can work well. To speak to that, Bell, Rogers constantly squrim and writhe, under their forced requirement to lease to competitors. They hate it, which to me means it can't be all bad.
- ulrashida 4y ago
  They're very good at managing that image, it's true. It's hard to believe that we're in an equitable spot as consumers with reports showing the big three are among the most profitable telcos in the world. That's not even starting in on the obvious price coordination that highlights the dearth of competition in the sector.

ulrashida 4y ago

Incorrect. Saskatchewan (SaskTel), Manitoba (Bell MTS, now sold), and Alberta (AGT, sold) maintained crown corporations for telecom.

moberley 4y ago
In Ontario there was the Dryden Municipal Telephone System and the Thunder Bay Telephone Company (now Tbaytel). DMTS was sold but Tbaytel remains owned by the City of Thunder Bay and provides service to various parts of Northwestern Ontario. And Terra Nova Tel which provided phone service in parts of Newfoundland was built on the legacy of the former Dominion of Newfoundland Department of Posts and Telephones by Canadian National while the latter was still a federal crown corporation.