Conservatives Urge Minister Joly to Halt Offshoring of Critical Network Operations
Ottawa, ON — Raquel Dancho, Shadow Minister for Industry, and Kyle Seeback, Shadow Minister for Labour, issued the following statement calling on Industry Minister Mélanie Joly to defend Canada’s sovereignty by immediately stopping Ericsson Canada’s plan, under contract with Rogers Communications, to offshore about 115 network operations technicians effective October 31, 2025:
“The decision to offshore critical network operations would transfer control of core wireless functions outside Canada, raising urgent concerns about national security, data protection and the loss of skilled Canadian jobs.
“These are not routine roles. These technicians maintain and secure the backbone of Canada’s wireless infrastructure – preventing outages, repairing faults and managing tower operations. Once these responsibilities are moved abroad, Canada will lose direct control over a vital part of its national communications infrastructure.
“Canadian technicians currently hold root-level access to Rogers’ network systems, supporting emergency services, 911 networks, and real-time data transmission. Granting that access to foreign-based workers risks giving them the ability to alter firmware, reroute traffic, or disrupt emergency communications, posing serious threats to public safety and sovereignty.
“This is about who controls Canada’s communications networks. The Liberals’ silence shows disregard for the workers who keep our national infrastructure running and for the principle that essential operations must remain in Canadian hands.
“The Telecommunications Act makes network security a core objective, and Public Safety Canada has warned that outsourcing poses growing risks in 5G systems. Despite this, the government has not acted as critical operations are shifted offshore.
“We urge Minister Joly to take steps to suspend Ericsson’s offshoring plan under national security provisions and review telecom network operations to ensure Canadians retain control over sovereign infrastructure.
“Canada’s communications networks are a cornerstone of our sovereignty and the Liberal government must act to protect them.”