By Ahmad Hathout
Alicia Barin stepped down as the CRTC’s vice chair of broadcasting on Friday to focus on her personal life.
“After a period of deep reflection and consultation with those closest to me following the sudden passing of my husband this past summer, I have concluded that I am at a time in my life when I need to fully step away from my professional commitments and focus on my family, which includes our four children,” Barin told CRTC staff in a statement, which was forwarded to Cartt.
“My appointment to the CRTC and the opportunity to work with the incredible team of people there has been a highlight of my career,” she continued. “I would like to thank my former Minister, The Honourable Pablo Rodriguez, for my appointment, and our Chairperson Vicky Eatrides, my fellow Vice-Chair and Commissioners, and the entire CRTC Senior Leadership and Executive Teams for their engagement and support. I will always cherish my time at the CRTC and wish the team all the best as they work to continue to ensure a modern, inclusive and timely organization that benefits all Canadians.”
Barin was appointed as interim vice chair of broadcasting in August 2022. She was later appointed in February 2023 to vice chair of broadcasting position in a full-time capacity for a five-year term. She was first appointed to the leadership in 2019, when she became commissioner of Quebec.
She spent over 20 years in the broadcast industry, with senior positions at Astral Media before it was acquired by Bell in 2013.
Barin’s exit presents yet another vacancy during a time of increased responsibility at the CRTC, which barely held on to a full-time commission as staff retirements and departures swept it up. Canadian Heritage must now brush up the job ad once more.
Barin had just sat on the panel of commissioners over a three-week hearing on just the first phase of the CRTC’s implementation of the Online Streaming Act. The commission must get through the rest of the phases of those regulations, as well as implementing the recently announced rules surrounding the Online News Act.
