Eh? Telecom networks were always privately owned in Canada and the US. They were never privatized.
Still, I seldom get the complaints. Our industry is private, but heavily regulated.
Yes, there are bumps over the years, and the CRTC at times is not optimal, but the whole "must lease last mile" thing is part of that regulation.
A mix of public control, and private industry can work well. To speak to that, Bell, Rogers constantly squrim and writhe, under their forced requirement to lease to competitors.
They hate it, which to me means it can't be all bad.
That's not even starting in on the obvious price coordination that highlights the dearth of competition in the sector.
And Terra Nova Tel which provided phone service in parts of Newfoundland was built on the legacy of the former Dominion of Newfoundland Department of Posts and Telephones by Canadian National while the latter was still a federal crown corporation.