As a long-time Rogers customer and a proud Canadian, I've always admired the company's commitment to employing Canadians for its customer service operations. Unlike Bell, which outsources many of its customer service jobs overseas to countries such as India, the Philippines, and Colombia, Rogers has long stood as a champion of Canadian jobs and values.
But recent news that Rogers is outsourcing its satellite coverage to Elon Musk's Starlink is deeply troubling — not just as a business decision, but also as a blow to Canada's technological sovereignty. This partnership represents a shift away from building and maintaining Canadian-owned infrastructure and toward dependence on a U.S.-based corporation led by a billionaire whose interests and values may not align with our own.
With our cellular networks now intertwined with nearly every aspect of daily life — from unlocking doors and managing finances to controlling critical infrastructure — we must ask ourselves: Is it wise to hand over such influence to a foreign entity? Should Canada's digital backbone depend on the goodwill of one individual, especially one with an unpredictable public record and growing political power south of the border?
For decades, Rogers has positioned itself as a leader in Canadian communications — a company that built our networks, connected our communities, and stood for innovation rooted in national pride. But now, under the guise of "progress," this Starlink partnership undermines those very values. It raises serious concerns about our data sovereignty, control over vital digital infrastructure, and the long-term health of our domestic tech ecosystem.
Yes, Starlink may offer appealing short-term benefits — including FREE promotional deals and expanded rural coverage — but what's the real cost? By embracing foreign-controlled networks, we risk eroding our self-reliance and ceding control over a critical part of Canada's future.
Canada deserves better. We need homegrown solutions that reflect our values, create Canadian jobs, and ensure our data remains within our borders. Instead of rewarding companies that take the easy route of outsourcing, we should demand accountability and genuine investment in Canadian innovation.
Let's be clear: this is about more than convenience. It's about control. It's about who owns the infrastructure that connects our homes, our businesses, and our lives. And it's about ensuring that Canada's future remains in Canadian hands — not dictated by the whims of billionaires or the shifting politics of another nation.
It's time for Canadians to stand up and demand that our corporations — especially those like Rogers, built on the trust and loyalty of Canadian customers — commit to keeping our communications infrastructure truly Canadian.
Because in the end, the question isn't just whether Elon Musk wants to build "Canada Strong."
It's whether we still do.
