OTTAWA ­ The federal government should hit the pause button on the licence it has approved for Globalive to enter the country's cell phone market, the Bloc Quebecois said Thursday.

The government opened the door to foreign ownership in the telecommunications market when it said Globalive could enter the Canadian market and now needs to make it clear whether this is Canadian policy, Bloc telecom critic Serge Cardin says. In the meantime, it should put a moratorium on the company's licence, which became effective the day of the decision.

Industry Minister Tony Clement in December overruled a CRTC ruling and allowed Globalive, a wireless company controlled by Egyptian-owned Orascom, entry into the Canadian market. The CRTC said in a decision last fall that Globalive didn't meet Canadian ownership and control requirements.

With the House of Commons due to resume next week, Cardin says the policy needs to be more transparent.

"The [foreign-ownership] law still exists. Nothing has happened to change the law," Cardin said, adding the government "effectively reversed a CRTC decision."

Cardin says allowing foreign ownership in the telecom industry touches cultural sovereignty and language issues.

"We know a mobile phone isn't just a phone. It's become an instrument with radio and tv, so it touches culture," he said.

The Bloc wants the government to address the issue in the Throne Speech and table a bill so the House of Commons can debate the issue and send it to committee to hear witnesses. But they are also calling for the establishment of a radio and telecom regulator for Quebec to handle the issues the CRTC would normally take on.

"We need to protect our culture, especially Quebec culture and language," said Carole Lavallee, the Bloc culture critic.