GATINEAU – Until the federal government makes up its mind on who it wants to lead the CRTC, vice-chair broadcasting Michel Arpin has been appointed acting chairperson, secretary general Diane Rhéaume announced today in an e-mail to staff.
"Pursuant to the Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission Act, the Commission may authorize one of the vice-chairs to assume the duties of chairperson in the event of a vacancy in that office. Mr. Arpin will therefore serve as acting chairperson until such time as the Government of Canada names a successor for Charles Dalfen," said a release.
Dalfen’s term expired at the end of 2006.
Arpin (pictured) has had many years of experience in the Canadian broadcasting industry, where he has worked for over 40 years, most recently as "senior regulatory and governmental affairs advisor f
or the Astral Broadcasting Group, and vice-president, planning, and corporate secretary for Radiomutuel Inc. He also held the positions of vice-chair and chair of the Canadian Association of Broadcasters."
There has been much speculation on who the new chair might be and that Prime Minister Stephen Harper may want to pick this one himself. Names mentioned have been broadcasting and CRTC veteran Fern Belisle and telecom lawyer and former Telus exec George Addy, among others but the thinking in Ottawa is that both have now been rejected.
The government has set no timeline on when a new chair might be named.
