Foreign ownership won’t win Tories a majority government: Poll

Canadians oppose foreign ownership of the country's broadcasting and communications companies and they're willing to vote for politicians who do as well, according to a nation-wide poll released in Calgary today by the Communications, Energy and Paperworkers Union of Canada, ACTRA, and Friends of Canadian Broadcasting. The Harris-Decima poll is part of the groups' Keep It Canadian campaign which supports current laws restricting foreign ownership of Canadian broadcast and telephone industries.According to the survey of 2,052 Canadians, 62% of voters who identify the Conservative Party as their second political choice would more likely vote for a candidate who opposes foreign ownership, while only 14% of these same voters would vote for a candidate who supports it. "It sends a message that there's no growth potential for the Conservative Government in ceding to the demands of ," says Friends spokesman Ian Morrision. "Canadians do not want the communications industry in foreign hands. They want to maintain control of it."The poll also shows that 59% and 57% of Canadians react unfavourably to foreign ownership of our media and cable companies, respectively. Nearly half (46%) of Canadians expect Canadian content on radio and television would decrease if control of broadcasting and cable companies was in foreign hands, and 82% say it's important the Canadian government maintain and build a culture and identity distinct from the United States. While the survey results may have been useful at last month's CRTC hearings into CanWest MediaWorks Inc. proposed acquisition of Alliance Atlantis Communications Inc. with majority financial backing of American investment bank Goldman Sachs Capital Partners, Morrison says you have to go higher than the commission to influence foreign ownership policy. "The message we are directing today is actually at the government," he says, "Because it's towards the government that the lobbyists for the cable industry are directing their attention as well." The lobbying centres around the Competition Policy Review established by the federal government to examine current rules that limit foreign ownership to 46.7% of a Canadian media or telecommunication company. The Review is scheduled to report back next June. "Our ask of the government is very simple: please do nothing ," adds Morrison. "We are in a struggle with powerful interests, but we do have public opinion on our side." The two unions and Friends chose Calgary to kick off Keep It Canadian because the city is home to five Conservative caucus members. Morrison says the campaign aims to bring public opinion into play on an a debate that has primarily taken place behind closed doors. While the campaign will be ongoing, Morrison declined to reveal any of the future initiatives at this time. The Harris-Decima poll's margin of error is ±2.2%, 19 times out of 20.

Foreign ownership won’t win Tories a majority government: Poll

News | 12/05/2007 8:36 pm EST

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