Canada says to comment soon on Globalive phone bid

OTTAWA, Nov 16 (Reuters) - The Canadian government will comment soon on the telecommunications regulator's decision to deny an operating license to start-up wireless carrier Globalive, an official said on Monday,

The Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission had said in a ruling last month that Globalive was effectively under the control of its Egyptian-based financial backer, Orascom Telecom (ORTE.CA), and therefore did not comply with the country's foreign ownership rules.

"We take this situation very, very seriously. We're currently studying the CRTC's decision, and the government will be in a position to comment further shortly," Mike Lake, parliamentary secretary to the industry minister, told the House of Commons. (Reporting by Randall Palmer; editing by Peter Galloway)