In their recent speech from the throne, the Canadian Government indicated their intention to raise foreign ownership limits with regard to the telecom industry. This is a decision long overdue, although one that requires balance and diplomacy when it comes to achieving the desired goal, something that the ruling Conservative Party has not been able to accomplish.

On the one hand they want to increase competition so as to lower consumer's monthly bills, yet on the other hand they also want to spur innovation by allowing existing companies access to foreign capital investment.

The demand for Internet and mobile networks is growing far faster than companies had anticipated and they will need to continually invest and expand their infrastructure which requires a lot of capital. The fear is that without foreign investment there would be further consolidation so as to pay for ongoing upgrades.

News is something I've always been interested in. Often this interest is more in the news business than it is in the news they are delivering. The internet has now matured to the point where I can get news from anywhere in the world, and I often seek multiple sources for coverage of a particular event.

However I do still tune into televised news, and most Canadians still get the majority of their news from their TV. This is why I think Al Jazeera should be available on Canadian cable television.

A number of CBC colleagues are now working for Al Jazeera's english language service, and via them I've been able to learn a lot about the programming produced for this network. For the most part it's excellent, and provides a crisp contrast to the rest of cable TV news.

You can view Al Jazeera online via Live Station, and once you do, I encourage you to contact the CRTC and participate in their current consulation regarding the network.

Video from a recent appearance of mine on CBC News Morning to discuss the potential regulation of the Internet by the CRTC. Also features behind the scenes footage!