Stockwell Day, the former MP for Okanagan – Coquihalla, who announced last March that he would not be running in the next federal election,

 is also a former Minister of Public Safety, Minister of International Trade and President of the Treasury Board under Stephen Harper.  Mr. Day would be considered by many to be a Conservative Party insider.

This at a time when Stephen Harper and the Conservatives are closely examining the foreign ownership regulations governing federally regulated companies like Telus.  In the 2010 Speech from the Throne, the Conservatives announced, “Our Government will open Canada’s doors further to venture capital and to foreign investment in key sectors, including the satellite and telecommunications industries, giving Canadian firms access to the funds and expertise they need.”

In fact, Telus showed some concern about this announcement in their May 5, 2010 “Telus Reports First Quarter 2010 Results” news release where they commented, “While the Industry Minister has signaled he will consider a number of options including removing all restrictions for carriers under the Telecommunications Act, he has also signaled that the government is not considering any changes under the Broadcasting Act at this time.  This would make it difficult for all converged or integrated carriers like Shaw and Telus to take advantage of any rule changes because all distribute broadcasting over the same networks used to carry telecom traffic.”

To read the full 2010 Throne Speech, click on the following link:
http://www.sft-ddt.gc.ca/eng/media.asp?id=1388

To read Telus’ news release “Telus Reports First Quarter 2010 Results”, please click on the following link:  http://about.telus.com/docs/DOC-1884