Media Centre Press Releases: July 13, 2006   July 13, 2006 For Immediate Release:   Alghabra Calls on Government to Examine Media Merger   MISSISSAUGA - Omar Alghabra, Liberal Member of Parliament for Mississauga-Erindale, is calling on the Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission (CRTC) and the federal government to investigate the proposed consolidation of two of the largest media conglomerates in the country.   Bell Globemedia, which owns the CTV network, the Globe and Mail and 17 specialty channels, announced that it plans to acquire CHUM Ltd., owner of 33 radio stations, 12 local television stations and is headed by the Citytv channels and 21 specialty TV channels.   "I hope the CRTC and the Canadian government will protect the interests of Canadians in maintaining a competitive marketplace for news gathering and editorial content and examine this reported deal fully and carefully before approving it," said Alghabra.   Over the last few years, Canadians have witnessed a dramatic concentration of media outlets which has reduced the options available for obtaining competitive and diverse sources of news and editorials.   "We want to maintain a healthy and sustainable media industry that is able to economically and culturally compete, however this must be balanced by protecting the interest of Canadians and their access to a competitive media environment," said Alghabra.   Alghabra is calling on the CRTC to perform its due diligence before approving any major consolidation that might impact the competitive nature of Canada’s media industry and that may also limit Canadian’s access to a wide and varied range of opinions and analyses of news and culture.