GATINEAU – Outgoing CRTC chairman Jean-Pierre Blais told Commission staff Friday that he did not seek to renew his term because his work there is done.
“I haven’t applied because I’ve done what I set out to do five years ago: to put the CRTC back on the path of building trust with Canadians and developing a world-class communication system with Canadians at its centre”, he said in a speech Friday morning.
Blais added that he kept a figurine of Merlin, the wizard featured in Arthurian legend, in his office for inspiration and to help him to stay focused on his vision.
“When I started this job almost exactly five years ago, I had a vision in mind for how my term would unfold”, he continued. “I presented that vision a few months later, in October 2012, at the annual conference of the Canadian Chapter of the International Institute of Communications. In that speech, I looked ahead to this day: the end of my mandate. Here’s what I forecasted:
In 2017, I see the CRTC as an institution that is trusted by Canadians. They trust us to ensure that Canada maintains and develops a world-class communication system. They trust us to defend their interests as citizens, as creators and as consumers.
In our case, trust is the by-product of doing the right thing. Of making the right choices that set up Canada’s communication system—and Canadians as consumers, creators and citizens within that system—for success in the face of change on a never-before-imagined scale. That’s the vision I put forward. And it’s exactly what we did.”
Thanking his team and their many accomplishments, including Thursday’s review of the Wireless Code which he described as “the final reward of a job done well”, Blais said that he’ll look back on this period of his career fondly. But he also offered up a parting jab at his detractors.
“I hope you’re just as proud of what we’ve achieved together", he added. "It hasn’t always been easy. Many people have thrown cold water on our decisions. Often, they’re those who never participated in our hearings or contributed to the public record. They’re those who stand at the back of the crowd and criticize our decisions after the fact.
To them, I’ll simply say this: “Leaders think and talk about solutions. Followers think and talk about problems.”
I urge you to continue to think and talk about solutions. To continue to lead.”
As for the wizard, he explained it thusly:
"Any of you who have visited my office will have seen this figurine. It’s of Merlin, that ancient wizard of Arthurian legend. In his acclaimed account of the life of King Arthur, The Once and Future King, T. H. White imagines Merlin as someone who experiences time backwards. Merlin knows the future. He’s lived it already. This is why he’s the ideal mentor for the king to be.
"Merlin was an inspiration for me during my term as Chairman. His presence kept me focused on my vision. After all, he already knew that we would achieve it together!"
