Call Out the Broken Rogers-Shaw Deal

Back in 2023, Canadians were told our government was putting conditions on the $26B Rogers-Shaw deal that would make it a win for all of us. The deal would be closely monitored and came with teeth: binding commitments with up to $1 billion in penalties for non-compliance.1

Three years later, the spirit of that promise is being broken in plain sight. Rogers' own public disclosures reveal that commitments on job creation, 5G expansion, fair pricing, and improved service are quietly being hollowed out — and ISED has done nothing about it.

It's time to remind ISED: these commitments are not optional. Send your message now and demand they enforce the commitments Canadians were promised!

To: The Honourable Mélanie Joly, Minister of Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada (ISED)

Please feel free to edit your letter below.

Minister
Mélanie
Joly
Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada

*You can resize the text box by dragging the corner toggle to view the full text.

A complete Canadian address is required to submit your message. Please enter a complete Canadian address to continue. We will notify your representative.

This campaign is hosted by OpenMedia. We will protect your privacy, and keep you informed about this campaign and others. Find OpenMedia's privacy policy here.

The deal Canadians were sold

In March 2023, Industry Minister François-Philippe Champagne approved Rogers' $26B takeover of Shaw – overriding the objections of the Competition Bureau and Parliament's own INDU committee.

Canadians were promised the deal came with "an unprecedented and legally enforceable set of commitments" that would ensure it was a net win for Canadians, and that the government would watch Rogers "like a hawk" to make sure they made good on their promises.2,3

Five broken promises

As part of the merger approval, Rogers signed a legally binding undertaking covering job creation, network investment, pricing, service quality, and public reporting — with penalties of up to $1 billion for non-compliance.4

Three years later today, Rogers' own public disclosures reveal that commitments on job creation,5,6,7 5G expansion,8,9 fair pricing,10 and improved service,11,12 are quietly being hollowed out. Yet ISED has not used its enforcement powers — and won't say whether it intends to.

1
3,000 new Western Canada jobs
Promised
Creation of 3,000 net new jobs in Western Canada by April 2028, maintained for 10 years.13
Reality
  • Rogers claims just 2,600 new hires in Western Canada.14 Then offered buyouts to 10,000 employees nationawide— half its non-unionized workforce.15
  • Meanwhile, 3,400 jobs were lost in the merger year alone,16 with another 2,000 jobs cut in 2024.17
  • 900 call centre jobs eliminated in 2025 as Rogers replaces workers with AI — workers who allege they were used to train the very system that replaced them.18
⚠ ISED's response: Nothing so far
2
$2.5 billion to expand 5G, within 5 years
Promised
At least $2.5B new investment to enhance and expand 5G coverage in Western Canada by April 2028.19
Reality

Rogers slashed capital spending by 30% in April 2026 — reducing investment by $1.2B less than anticipated in 2026 alone. CEO Tony Staffieri told shareholders many projects are now "simply uneconomical."20 CFO Glenn Brandt confirmed investments are being pushed past the April 2028 deadline permanently.21

⚠ ISED's response: Silence
3
Prices would not go up
Promised
Minister Champagne said the merger would "actually drive down prices across Canada."22
Reality

The year after the deal passed, Rogers raised prices on virtually every product line:

  • ↑ Mobile plans up $7-$9/month (Jan 2024) Champagne himself called it against government affordability plans.23
  • ↑ Shaw internet, TV & home phone all raised (Jan 2024)24
  • New $7/month TV box fee on equipment already in customer homes (Sep 2024)25
  • ↑ Connection fee raised 3 times in 13 months — from $60 to $70 (July 2024)26 to $75 (February 2025)27 to $80 (July 2025)28. The CRTC's implementing decision banning activation fees was finally issued in March 2026 and will take effect June 12, 2026.29 Rogers extracted at least $20 in additional fees per new-customer activation during the 21-month gap between Parliament's legislation and the CRTC finally taking action.
  • ↑ U.S. roaming raised twice in one year, now the highest of any major Canadian carrier.30
  • ↑ Wireless prices up 12.7% year-over-year (Nov 2025), rising to 14.9% by Dec 2025.31
⚠ ISED's response: The minister "texted with senior leadership" at Rogers without elaborating on what was discussed.32
4
Better service for Canadians
Promised
CEO Staffieri pledged "more choice, more value, and more connectivity to Canadians."33
Reality34
  • A jaw-dropping record 23,647 complaints against CCTS in 2024/2025. This is their third consecutive record year. 
  • Rogers/Shaw complaints nearly doubled again from 2024/2025 to 2025/2026, up 95% year-over-year; wholly-owned subsidiary Fido complaints are up 155%.
  • Rogers now generates 44% of all telecom complaints in Canada.
  • Breach of contract complaints are up 116%; price increase complaints up 76%.
  • Customers documented spending 7+ hours trying to cancel basic services.
⚠ ISED's response: No action taken
5
Transparent annual reporting
Promised
Public annual reports on every commitment, with data independently verified and shared with ISED.35
Reality
Rogers' Year 1 and Year 2 reports exist,36,37 but Rogers reserves the right to withhold "competitively sensitive" information, the reporting isn't independently verified, and there's no mechanism for the public to scrutinize the underlying data.38
⚠ ISED's response: Won't say if any commitment is at risk.

The numbers don't lie

$26B
Size of the merger
$0
Penalties enforced out of $1B maximum penalty for non-compliance
6,300+
Estimated net jobs lost in the merger year, 2024 and 2025
~2,600
Jobs created out of the 3,000 new Western Canada job target
30%
Cut to Rogers' 2026 capital spending
3
Connection fee increases in just 13 months
14.9%
Wireless price increase (December 2025)
23,647
Record CCTS complaints in 2024/25
95%
Year-over-year jump in Rogers/Shaw complaints
44%
Share of all Canadian telecom complaints generated by Rogers brands

What we're demanding

1
Independent public audit
An independent public audit of Rogers' compliance with every commitment, with underlying data published — not Rogers' self-accounting.
2
Formal Section 8 status statement from ISED
ISED must formally assess Rogers jobs and 5G investment commitments, and whether ISED will apply the deals’ noncompliance penalty fees.
3
Hearings from Parliament’s INDU committee on year-three deal compliance
Year-three deal compliance hearings, with Rogers' CEO and ISED officials compelled to testify to MPs on how they’ve measured up.

If Rogers' and Minister Champagne’s "legally binding" commitments mean anything, ISED can show it by taking on these three asks. If they don't, Canadians deserve to know.

If you haven't taken action yet click here

Sources

  1. Rogers-Shaw Merger Conditions Include Up to C$1 Billion Penalty – Bloomberg Law
  2. Undertakings of Rogers Communications Inc. related to its public commitments and agreement with His Majesty the King in right of Canada, as represented by the Minister of Industry – Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada
  3. Rogers-Shaw deal approved — with ‘unprecedented’ conditions. Here’s what to know – Global News
  4. Ottawa gives final approval, with conditions, for Rogers' $26B purchase of Shaw – The Canadian Press
  5. Rogers takeover of Shaw approved, with conditions – CBC
  6. Rogers offering buyouts to about 10,000 employees as it aims to cut spending – CBC
  7. Rogers Communications offering buyouts to half its work force – The Globe and Mail
  8. Rogers plans to cut capital spending by up to $1.2-billion this year – The Globe and Mail
  9. Rogers slashes capital spending as it blames regulations, reports Q1 profit up – BNN Bloomberg
  10. Chapter 4: Prices for cellular services increase year over year for a second consecutive month – Statistics Canada
  11. Customers complain about long wait times, multiple calls to resolve issues with Rogers, Telus and Bell – CBC
  12. Rogers clients complain of customer service nightmare, spending hours on hold to resolve simple issues – CBC
  13. See 2
  14. Amid news of cuts, Rogers touts 2,600 jobs created in Western Canada since 2021 Shaw merger – Calgary Herald
  15. See 6
  16. How many jobs did Rogers drop after the Shaw takeover? Figures suggest more than 3,000 – The Globe and Mail
  17. Rogers drops another 2,000 jobs in 2024, after sharp decline in employee count in 2023 – The Globe and Mail
  18. Rogers’ shock employment notice shows an industry at a crossroads – Human Resource Director
  19. See 2
  20. See 8
  21. See 9
  22. See 3
  23. Rogers Recaps Shaw Merger Anniversary: ‘We Increased Competition’ – iPhone in Canada
  24. Rogers to Increase Shaw Prices on TV, Internet, Phone – iPhone in Canada
  25. MPs grill Rogers CEO over price increase for TV customers in fixed contracts – The Globe and Mail
  26. Rogers and Fido Price Increase: Connection Fee Now $70 – iPhone in Canada
  27. Rogers hikes connection fee again to $75 – MobileSyrup
  28. Rogers and Fido raise connection fee to $80 – MobileSyrup
  29. CRTC to eliminate fees when cancelling or switching cellphone and internet plans – CBC
  30. Rogers and Fido Increases Their Roaming Fees – PlanHub
  31. See 10
  32. Hundreds of Rogers, Bell and Telus customers angry prices can increase during contract – CBC
  33. Ottawa allows Rogers to complete $20-billion takeover of Shaw, with conditions – The Globe and Mail
  34. Complaints against Rogers/Shaw nearly doubled in mid-year CCTS report – MobileSyrup
  35. See 2
  36. Rogers Together with Shaw: Our Progress ReportYear 1 - April 2023–2024 – Rogers
  37. Rogers Together with Shaw: Our Progress ReportYear 2 - April 2024–2025 – Rogers
  38. Rogers Becomes a Tire Fire Through Customer Complaints and Job Cuts – Do Not Pass Go

Press: Matt Hatfield | Phone: +1 (888) 441-2640 ext. 0  | [email protected]