The CEOs of three multimedia companies have written to the minister of Canadian Heritage, complaining that two federally funded agencies have become involved in the $3.4-billion BellAstral deal.
The CEOs say it is inappropriate for a local RCMP detachment in Terrace and Telefilm Canada to have made submissions to the Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission in favour of a deal they oppose.
The heads of Cogeco Cable Inc., Eastlink, and Quebecor Inc. say they are concerned about the independence of other federal agencies reviewing the transaction - the CRTC and Competition Bureau.
They have asked Heritage Minister James Moore to have the RCMP and Telefilm letters withdrawn.
"We were surprised to find out that among the 1,700+ interventions received by the CRTC on the BCE/Astral applications, two are from federal agencies whose interventions in this matter go beyond their respective competence and mandate," they wrote to Moore.
A regulatory hearing on the deal starts next month.
