‘Crazy’ to let Huawei control Canada’s 5G network, Rogers Communications vice-chairman Philip Lind says, calling for ban

While Huawei is cheaper and sophisticated compared with other alternatives, Lind says, its close relationship to Chinese government is troubling

Canadian PM Justin Trudeau and US Vice-President Mike Pence expected to discuss Chinese telecoms giant in Ottawa

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A woman walks by a Huawei retail store in Beijing on Wednesday. Photo: AP

Published: 2:21am, 31 May 2019Updated: 1:56am, 26 Dec 2021

Huawei Technologies poses too big of a threat to Canada and should be banned from its 5G network, according to the vice-chairman of Rogers Communications.

While Huawei is cheaper and sophisticated compared with other alternatives, its close relationship to the Chinese government is troubling, Philip Lind said, adding that the company would be obliged to do the government’s bidding.

“The idea of Huawei controlling, or potentially controlling our communication system in Canada is crazy,” Lind said in a TV interview with BNN Bloomberg. “I don’t think they should be allowed to.”

The Canadian government is still mulling whether to ban Huawei from its 5G telecommunications system due to potential security challenges. No deadline has been made on the ruling, though its Five Eyes intelligence allies remain divided on the issue.

Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and US Vice-President Mike Pence are expected to discuss Huawei in a meeting in Ottawa on Thursday.

Canada, Britain and New Zealand are still deciding what to do about Huawei while Australia has banned the firm from 5G. In the US, President Donald Trump is moving to restrict Huawei from doing business with American companies.

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