GATINEAU – With a number of proposed substantive changes to the role and responsibilities of the CRTC recommended in the Broadcasting and Telecommunications Legislative Review (BTLR) panel report released today, it’s not surprising one of the first people to issue a statement regarding the report was the Commission’s chair and CEO, Ian Scott.
The first of the panel’s 97 recommendations is that the name of the CRTC be changed to the Canadian Communications Commission, the title of the Broadcasting Act be changed to the Media Communications Act, and the title of the Telecommunications Act be changed to the Electronic Communications Act. These changes would better reflect the broader scope of communications legislation and the expanded responsibilities of the communications regulator, the report says.
Several recommendations suggest amendments to the CRTC Act (to be renamed the Canadian Communications Commission Act, if the panel’s recommendation is taken) and the Broadcasting Act and Telecommunications Act. One aim of the proposed amendments is to give the CRTC more powers “to monitor existing markets and to develop a stronger research and strategic foresight capability,” the report says.
“More than an administrative tribunal, a renewed CRTC would have a proactive evidence based orientation that spots market distortions and systemic challenges early on, puts consumers in a position to advocate for themselves, and conducts monitoring and measurement that minimizes the need for more invasive intervention,” the report states.
In his statement issued Wednesday afternoon, CRTC chairperson and CEO Ian Scott says: “The CRTC would like to recognize the panel, as well as the secretariat, for their efforts in carrying out a mandate of this magnitude. The comprehensive and robust report touches on a number of areas that are critical to our mandate and we are studying the report with great interest.
“At first glance, it is clear that the panel recognizes that fundamental changes need to occur to fully enable the CRTC to act in the public interest. We look forward to future legislative changes to effectively fulfill our mandate in this new environment.”
