Comments on: I Am Canada and So Can You http://paulmct.wordpress.com/2008/04/11/i-am-canada-and-so-can-you/ Views From the Edge of the Continent Fri, 18 Jul 2008 23:38:37 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=MU By: paulmct http://paulmct.wordpress.com/2008/04/11/i-am-canada-and-so-can-you/#comment-336 paulmct Sat, 12 Apr 2008 00:16:29 +0000 http://paulmct.wordpress.com/?p=100#comment-336 Thanks, Chaplain. PL: First of all, it wasn't my objective to block the sale outright. As I said in my first post on the subject, if the deal is allowed to go ahead, provisions should be made to keep Radarsat2 in Canadian hands. Second, I don't think protecting Canadian sovereignty over our own territory is ridiculous. Third, the 1700 workers won't be unemployed. MDA is a major recipient of CSA contracts. News reports said the life of Radarsat2 is 7 years, so a next generation will be needed. It's up to management to find new ways to commercially exploit their technical expertise and intellectual property. Finally, I don't know why shareholders would think they can sue the government. Every cross-border acquisition is subject to regulatory approval. There is no guarantee that it will go ahead. Do shareholders of American companies sue the U.S. government when it blocks a takeover by a Canadian company? No. Apparently, they can protect their dominant market position, but we can't protect our sovereignty. Thanks, Chaplain.

PL:
First of all, it wasn’t my objective to block the sale outright. As I said in my first post on the subject, if the deal is allowed to go ahead, provisions should be made to keep Radarsat2 in Canadian hands.

Second, I don’t think protecting Canadian sovereignty over our own territory is ridiculous.

Third, the 1700 workers won’t be unemployed. MDA is a major recipient of CSA contracts. News reports said the life of Radarsat2 is 7 years, so a next generation will be needed. It’s up to management to find new ways to commercially exploit their technical expertise and intellectual property.

Finally, I don’t know why shareholders would think they can sue the government. Every cross-border acquisition is subject to regulatory approval. There is no guarantee that it will go ahead. Do shareholders of American companies sue the U.S. government when it blocks a takeover by a Canadian company? No. Apparently, they can protect their dominant market position, but we can’t protect our sovereignty.

]]> By: Powell Lucas http://paulmct.wordpress.com/2008/04/11/i-am-canada-and-so-can-you/#comment-332 Powell Lucas Fri, 11 Apr 2008 22:22:13 +0000 http://paulmct.wordpress.com/?p=100#comment-332 I'm certainly glad to know who was behind this ridiculous move to block the sale of MDA. Now the 1,700 workers who will soon be jobless will know who to blame. When the shareholders launch their lawsuits the government won't have to pick my pocket to pay them off. They can pick yours. I’m certainly glad to know who was behind this ridiculous move to block the sale of MDA. Now the 1,700 workers who will soon be jobless will know who to blame. When the shareholders launch their lawsuits the government won’t have to pick my pocket to pay them off. They can pick yours.

]]> By: the chaplain http://paulmct.wordpress.com/2008/04/11/i-am-canada-and-so-can-you/#comment-331 the chaplain Fri, 11 Apr 2008 22:18:23 +0000 http://paulmct.wordpress.com/?p=100#comment-331 Good for you. I'm glad you made a difference. Good for you. I’m glad you made a difference.

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