The Communications, Energy and Paperworkers Union of Canada told the hearing on Wednesday that media concentration in Canada has had troubling consequences.
"Apart from chilling diversity and neutering competition, concentrated media ownership has reduced employment opportunities in content creation," said union vice-president Peter Murdoch. "This is why CEP opposes this application."
He added that if the CRTC does approve the deal it should ensure that Bell strengthens original, local broadcast news.
"You could approve it, however, if the evidence presented to you establishes that it will clearly, significantly and unequivocally benefit Canadians and the broadcasting system, and if its benefits offset the extremely serious concerns it has raised -- especially for news and particularly local news." Murdoch says the CRTC should require Bell to spend $43.5 million on radio and TV news production.