Burlington Mayor Marianne Meed Ward had a teleconference with Cogeco Executive Chair Louis Audet las week and issued the following statement:
Residents may have recently heard the news about a current offer from Altice USA Inc. that would include Rogers Communications Inc. taking over Cogeco’s Canadian operations.
As one of Burlington’s largest employers, Cogeco is a key member of our business community and has been a valued contributor to our local economy and connectivity for more than 30 years.
I spoke with Executive Chairman of the Board, Louis Audet on Friday, who reiterated to me that Cogeco has no intention to sell their controlling stake in the company. He shared his family’s vision to continue their longstanding legacy of providing connectivity to the communities they serve.
With over 1000 employees and 100,000 square feet in office and retail space in Burlington, Cogeco has created significant employment opportunities for our local workforce. Their head office in Burlington is their base of operations for all of Ontario.
By delivering cable television, internet and telephony services through its two-way broadband cable networks, Cogeco provides digital access and infrastructure that is essential to helping our residents work, study and stay connected in these increasingly challenging times.
Their extensive community programming via YourTV, including the Burlington Matters program that I host as Mayor, is part of a longstanding relationship with the City of Burlington. Their commitment to keeping our residents informed and engaged on local news and issues that matter to them adds great value to our community as does their history of philanthropic support for important local causes.
During our conversation, I was encouraged to hear Mr. Audet speak of his deep-rooted and lasting commitment to our community, and to keeping the base of operations in Burlington for decades to come. We want to maintain this long-standing business, community partner and employer in our city. I look forward to their continued presence in Burlington and their ongoing contribution to our future economy, digital infrastructure and community engagement.
Thank heavens we have big telecom companies here to buy politicians, snuff out competition and keep internet rates artificially high, true humanitarians.
Rogers doesn’t “compete” with companies like Cogeco…..or Mountain Cable…….it purchases them, assumes their client base, and increases those internet rates to new plateaus.
They would rather collude with the likes of Bell.