The proposed acquisition of Shaw Communications by Rogers Communications in March 2021 provoked strong reactions from many stakeholders. Given this context, the House of Commons Standing Committee on Industry and Technology decided to undertake a study on this issue. During this study, most witnesses said they were opposed to the transaction in its current form. They expressed concerns about its impacts on the diversity of voices in the broadcasting sector and on the affordability and accessibility of telecommunications services. They also underscored the importance of the Freedom Mobile brand to keeping wireless services accessible in Canada.

The organizations responsible for reviewing this transaction, the Department of Industry, Science and Economic Development, the Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission (CRTC) and the Competition Bureau also testified during this study. Related to their testimony, some stakeholders have argued the need for a review of the Competition Act and the importance of the CRTC always considering the interests of Canadians in terms of affordability and accessibility in its decisions. As a result, the Committee recommends that the federal government immediately launch a review of the Competition Act, that it provide regulatory bodies with enough resources to carry out their work and follow up on their decisions, and that it take steps to ensure the affordability and accessibility interests of all Canadians take precedence over all other considerations during the review of the proposed merger.