MaSSSoftech

Canadian courts and government have approved the dismantling of one of Canada's last technology champions, underscoring fears that the country is falling behind in high-tech.

Canadian and U.S. courts last week cleared the sale of Nortel Networks Corp.'s giant business-phone unit to U.S. telecom-equipment maker Avaya Inc.

Meanwhile, Canada's industry minister said the government wouldn't challenge the sale of Nortel's other big unit, with its wireless operations, to Sweden's Telefon AB L.M. Ericsson. BlackBerry maker Research in Motion Ltd., based in Waterloo, Ontario, had demanded the Canadian government block that sale on the grounds that it would harm national security.