The proper people in government and in the regulatory bodies were properly paid off in order for this buyout to occur. This had zero business getting approved given what is at stake. Let's not forget that these companies had a handshake agreement amongst the families for not competing with each other on landline and internet connection for the most part from decades ago. This is exactly why you didn't see Rogers selling internet and cable packages out west and Shaw with virtually no significant presence in central and eastern Canada. Doubtful those were "business decisions"
Some people within the regulatory bodies tried hard to not allow this deal to go through but ultimately the government finally ok'd the deal, logically that's what they were paid to do. I think Quebecor will make a decent effort to expand and grow Freedom Mobile but if the marketspace growth and capital requirements face too many headwinds, they will sell FM to Rogers, Telus or Bell.
The same lack of competition is happening with the airlines now. A strong understanding that Westjet competes strongly in the west with Calgary as a main hub and Air Canada looking after the east.
Westjet has "suspended" flights between Toronto and Montreal, Canada's two largest cities. It's not an accurate comparison, but could anybody imagine a major US airline not flying LA to NY?
We allow this level of garbage in Canada with these protected industries who are allowed to thrive with very little competition. It's one of the reasons why Canada's economy is so centered on a few basic things like natural resource extraction, trade with USA and some other stable things like banking/insurance. It's not like there is a mountain of Canadian companies competing globally and winning. A huge portion of them are sheltered and it shows.
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