Wind Mobile court decision postponed to 18 May

Canada’s Federal Court has granted an extension to the 45-day stay period given in its decision of 4 February which reversed the federal cabinet’s approval of cellco Wind Mobile’s ownership. A new hearing in Ottawa is now scheduled for 18 May. Orascom-backed Wind is appealing the decision which orders it to comply with foreign ownership laws, whilst Industry Minister Tony Clement has confirmed that the federal government is itself also appealing the judgement. The ruling effectively reinstates an original decision from the telecoms regulator the CRTC saying that Wind is effectively controlled by non-Canadians due to Egypt-based Orascom holding the vast majority of its debt.