Arts groups rail against CanWest-Goldman Sachs deal for Alliance Atlantis

Arts groups rail against CanWest-Goldman Sachs deal for Alliance Atlantis
CBC News

The proposed takeover of Alliance Atlantis by CanWest Global Communications and its U.S. partner Goldman Sachs came under fire again on Tuesday from Canadian arts groups.

At CRTC hearings in Gatineau, Que., ACTRA and the Writers Guild of Canada called on the country's broadcast regulator to block the acquisition.

Maureen Parker, the executive director of the writers guild, said her group doesn't object to CanWest's purchase of Alliance Atlantis specialty channels, but raised concerns about Goldman Sachs' role in the deal.

"Had CanWest chosen to partner with a Canadian investor, or even a foreign partner with less than 50 per cent of equity and debt, we would not be here today,” Parker said.

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