The federal government’s pick to head up Canada’s telecom watchdog has some observers wondering whether the days of a fiercely pro-consumer CRTC are coming to a close.
According to multiple news reports, Heritage Minister Melanie Joly has picked telecom executive and former civil servant Ian Scott to replace Jean-Pierre Blais, who stepped down when his five-year term ended last month.
Scott is a veteran of the telecom business, most recently working as director of government and regulatory affairs at Telesat, Cartt.ca reports. He also spent time as vice-president of government regulations at Telus, and worked as chief policy advisor to then-CRTC chair Konrad von Finckenstein in 2007-08. He was a registered lobbyist for both Telesat and Telus, the Financial Post reports.
According to the Post, which first reported on the appointment, the federal Liberals were looking for a candidate with both private-sector and public-sector experience.
Daniel Tencer – HuffPost Canada – July 18, 2017.
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