Keep Nortel technology Canadian: Ont. minister

[CHIMO]

The government of Ontario wants the federal government to block the transfer of some of Nortel Network's advanced wireless communications technology to Sweden's LM Ericsson.

Over the weekend, Ericsson emerged as the victor in the auction of Nortel's wireless business with a bid of $1.13 billion US, giving the company access to Nortel's LTE, or long-term evolution, mobile technology.

Dwight Duncan, Ontario's finance minister, said the LTE was partly funded with Canadian taxpayer money, and he doesn't want it going to a foreign company.

Duncan called on the federal government to stop the sale to Ericsson and help arrange a deal that would see Research In Motion or another Canadian firm acquire the division.

http://www.cbc.ca/canada/toronto/story/2009/07/27/ericsson-nortel-lte-technology-ontario.html

To come: Izzy wants a second look
Maz wants something done
Clement is waiting to be told what to do.

[daleo]

1. I don't think this will be blocked

The Harper government almost seems to dislike Canadian high technology industries. I think they harbour a sort of colonial mentality (along the lines described in John Ralston Saul's "A Fair Country") - Canadians companies should be providers of resources to other countries' industries.