Eastlink still interested in purchasing Bruce Telecom

Bragg Communications (Eastlink) is still interested in purchasing Bruce Telecom.
That's the word from Kincardine mayor Anne Eadie at the council meeting Wednesday night (Feb. 18).

Eadie told council she had contacted Eastlink the previous Friday and the company is interested in renegotiating a deal for the sale of Bruce Telecom, provided the requirements of the Competition Bureau can be mitigated.

"Bruce Telecom has been in limbo for over a year now," said Eadie. "We need to move forward."

Councillor Laura Haight suggested continuing with the motion as agreed upon by council at the Feb. 4 meeting.
The next steps would then be to have the consultants, Accelerator Strategies and TMT, be retained to assist the mayor in these discussions with Eastlink; council would then have the information it needs to fully assess any path forward with respect to either proceeding with the sale of Bruce Telecom or continuation of the company; and that this resolution does not represent or indicate any commitment by council, at this time, to proceed with the sale. A report to council is to be provided with respect to these discussions.

"We should proceed with those next steps," said Haight. "We need to know the value of the company, the status of the $37-million fibreoptic capital program, and whether to defer any future dividends. The original resolution still stands."

Chief administrative officer Murray Clarke said the mayor is being cautious since that was a controversial motion; it was approved by a narrow 5-4 vote.

"We're just re-debating a motion that has already been passed," said councillor Maureen Couture. "That motion was quite comprehensive. Engage the consultants and get the information before we make any decisions. The mayor's update is terrific; now we proceed. We're not making a decision tonight on whether to sell or not."

Council agreed to engage the consultants and get more information on which to make a decision.