Business Ethics: Canada’s Wireless Market

The following article discusses the current situation of Canada’s wireless market. The three largest Canadian operators are blamed for forming a loose oligopoly in which they match prices and eliminate consumer choice. Canada’s government is attempting at the moment to bring in foreign cellular companies such as Verizon (U.S.) in order to destroy the oligopoly, drop the prices and create a more fair market for consumers. If Verizon enters Canada they will use the already established Canadian network. The three largest Canadian operators are arguing that this act will cause many Canadian workers to lose their jobs and that Verizon in Canada will be administered by Americans thus supposedly not providing any of the management positions to Canadians. Canada is in an ethical struggle: the oligopoly must be destroyed for the good of the consumers but the entrance of a foreign large-scale company to Canada might have some negative effects as well.