Yellowknife, N.W.T. - Wednesday was a big day for the groups in the NWT who would be directly affected by Bell's purchase of Astral Media.

SSI Micro and Iristel each had their day to speak at the CRTC hearings taking place in Montreal and the message was loud and clear - this sale is no good.

SSI Micro's chief development officer Dean Proctor said the big part of the package, which is the $40 million benefits package NorthwesTel would receive from the sale, isn't going where it's supposed to go.

He said it's meant for independent Canadian broadcast providers, not for their own pockets.

"If it's money that Bell's paying to Bell, that's not being funnelled to independent third parties. That's just a subsidy that Bell is giving itself."

Proctor also said based on the amount of interveners in the case, the CRTC is receiving a loud message and they should heed it.

"When one intervener after another continues to state the exact same concern, and continues to list off the litany of reasons why this is just not an appropriate proposal by Bell, to subsidize Bell, the commission is listening."

The GNWT has also submitted its remarks, saying the money should be put into a fund for competitive purposes.

CJCD Mix 100 News