In case you missed the story in Monday’s Globe and Mail, the placement of a comma was worth more than $2M to Rogers.
Here is the paragraph in question:
Subject to the termination provisions of [the Agreement], [the Agreement] shall be effective from the date it is made and shall continue in force for a period of five (5) years from the date it is made, and thereafter for successive five (5) year terms, unless and until terminated by one year prior notice in writing by either party.
Snap quiz. Calling out to all English teachers, when can the agreement be terminated? It all hinges on when the clause “unless and until terminated by one year prior notice in writing by either party” and whether it applies to the entire contracted period or just the successive 5 year terms.
In other words, is the contract solid for at least the first 5 years?
Well, thanks to that pesky second comma, the “unless and until” was ruled to apply to the whole sentence, not just the “and thereafter…” portion. As a result, Aliant was able to give one year’s notice to Rogers and raise pole attachment rates to the tune of more than $2M.
And that, boys and girls, is why it is important to pay attention to your English teachers when you go back to school next month!
Technorati Tags:
CRTC, grammar, Globe and Mail, Rogers, Aliant