GATINEAU – In an email to staff this morning, the CRTC’s vice-chair, telecommunications Peter Menzies announced he is resigning as of July 15th, 2017.
After a career in publishing, Menzies was appointed as a part-time CRTC commissioner in 2007, and would later become the full-time Alberta/NWT commissioner. He was appointed vice-chair telecom in 2013. His term was only to officially expire in June 2018 and Menzies has told staff he is leaving to pursue another opportunity, which he has not yet named.
“Seventeen commissioners, four chairpersons, four vice chairs, six ministers, 50 (appearing) public hearings, billions of dollars distributed and fought over in tangible benefits, multiple corporate CEOs, hundreds of thousands of kilometers of travel and two prime ministers later, I have determined that the time has come to say goodbye to those of you with whom I have shared the past decade of my life,” Menzies wrote in a note sent to staff today.
“At a certain age one becomes conscious that there is much more runway visible in the rear view mirror than there is on the tarmac ahead and that only so many great opportunities remain. One that I have found impossible to resist – a chance to be involved in building something cultural and special and lasting – has found me. I am confident I will never get a better offer than the one I am leaving you to pursue,” he continued.
Menzies thanked staff in the note for their “patience and kindness equaled only by that displayed by my French tutor,” adding “you are far too many to mention individually but I will reserve special thoughts for those upon whom I most depended – Marie Brosseau, Kristin White and Cindy-Lee Scullion in Gatineau and the irrepressible Margot Anderson in Calgary. Merci and thank you.
“To each of my former colleagues on the Commission – those who taught me that if I was going to win an argument that I had better bring some game – I also wish to express my gratitude. You gave me an entirely new understanding of and sympathy for those who govern this country. Some of you gave an even better gift – your friendship.”
This loss will leave the CRTC with a serious vacuum at the top, as the vice-chair broadcasting position remains empty after 20 months, filled only on an emergency six-month basis by Judith LaRocque, who is now interim CRTC chair – but only until mid-October. The Ontario and Prairie Regional commissioner positions also remain empty (Ontario for more than a year and the Prairie job since Candice Molnar’s term expired in January 2017).
(Ed note: Readers will recall the pickle the federal government is in as it tries to re-stock the CRTC commissioner shelves. One hopes they do a little work on this over the summer.)
Menzies is pictured in CPAC screen cap at a recent hearing.
