GATINEAU – Just before the Canadian Cable Systems Alliance made its presentation to the CRTC during the basic service objective hearing, Commission chairman Jean-Pierre Blais looked at another panel of jackets and ties and made a personal observation – one which he has before.
He lamented the fact that there are so few women appearing in front of him representing the companies making presentations and answering questions. The CCSA’s panel was three gentlemen: Cable Cable president Mike Fiorini, CCSA VP regulatory Chris Edwards and consultant John Piercy.
“Where there have been women on the panels in these telecom proceedings, they don’t have speaking roles,” said Blais.
“I gave a short speech last year to the Canadian Women In Technology gala… and I noted then in the fall of 2014, we held three major hearings… 125 women appeared in those three hearings. We calculated that of the 1.8 million words spoken, only 163,000 were spoken by women sitting at the witness table.”
That’s just 14%, he said.
“I called on everyone, including the CRTC… that we can do better. On this panel, all the women appointed by the government as commissioners are here (Candice Molnar, commissioner for Manitoba and Saskatchewan, and Linda Vennard – Alberta and Northwest Territories),” Blais added, noting that the CRTC tries to make sure its staff is “balanced from a gender perspective.”
“I certainly agree, Mr. Chairman,” said Edwards. “I have the distinct privilege of being the only man in an office with 13 women.” All of the CCSA’s staffers (including CEO Alyson Townsend) are women, save Mr. Edwards.
Blais added he didn’t want to appear like he was targeting the CCSA, it’s just that the companies appearing before him so far have sent tables full of men and few women, and that’s something which must be addressed.
