Edward Rogers to take battle for Rogers Communications Inc. to B.C. Supreme Court

TORONTO – The ousted chairman of Rogers Communication Inc. says he’ll go to the British Columbia Supreme Court in a bid to wrest back control of the company.

Edward Rogers made the assertion after holding a meeting that included five hand-picked directors, meant to replace members of the board that on Thursday removed him as its chair.

Edward Rogers was replaced as chair of Rogers Thursday after media reports that he tried but failed to put former chief financial officer Tony Staffieri into the role of CEO and replace other members of the leadership team.

A statement from his camp says Edward Rogers was elected chair of the board at Sunday’s meeting.

An earlier statement from Rogers’ three siblings and the board they endorse pre-emptively rejected any outcome of Sunday night’s meeting, saying that only the board as it existed Thursday has any authority.

The statement says it comes from a group representing the majority of the board.

But Edward Rogers remains chair of the Rogers Control Trust, the controlling shareholder, which, along with Rogers family members, owns 97 per cent of Class A voting shares.

In a series of tweets on Sunday, Martha Rogers, sister of Edward, said she promised to share “the truth” about her brother’s “Trump scandal” from May when he and his family were photographed with the former U.S. President.

“[I] haven’t gone anywhere, and not [am] deterred by Navigator’s lame personal attacks,” read one of Martha’s tweets. “Just wanted to thank everyone for calling them out when they do, you guys are my heroes.”

Haven’t gone anywhere, and not deterred by Navigator’s lame personal attacks. Just wanted to thank everyone for calling them out when they do, you guys are my heroes. ????

— Martha Rogers (@MarthaLRogers) October 24, 2021

Martha also tweeted that her brother “won’t win” any lawsuit.

Rogers is the parent company of CityNews and its many affiliates.