GATINEAU – CRTC Chairman Konrad von Finckenstein made two appointments today, following up on his promises to begin re-organizing the Commission’s operations.
He named long-time public servant Robert A. Morin as the Commission’s Secretary General, starting April 23. Morin, an executive coach since retiring from his senior post with the Competition Bureau of Canada three years ago, has been given a specific mandate to launch an internal review of CRTC operations and processes.
Von Finckenstein also announced the creation of a new Strategic Communications Branch that will bring together Public Affairs, Parliamentary Affairs, Internal Communications and the personnel involved in the CRTC web site and the Zone.
Renée Fairweather, most recently Director of Communications for the Canadian Air Transport Security Authority, has been named Director-General, effective April 30. She will report to von Finckenstein.
Morin and von Finckenstein know each other well from their days together at the Competition Bureau.
Morin held various executive positions in several government departments and agencies, including Secretary General of Industry Canada and Deputy Commissioner of Competition for the Competition Bureau.
Morin is also described as a dedicated volunteer who believes that government employees have an important role to play in the community. “Notably, he has been involved with the Government of Canada Workplace Charitable Campaign and with several other organizations that support the less fortunate,” von Finckenstein said in a statement.
“Having worked personally with Robert for over 15 years, I am confident he is the man for the job, particularly when it comes to ensuring that the CRTC continues to evolve in step with the industries we regulate within the rapidly changing world of communications.
“Robert has a big job ahead of him – one with no shortage of challenges. I am entrusting him with an important and well-defined mandate commensurate with his vast experience and abilities.
“That mandate will include: implementing the four principles that guide our work, i.e., transparency, fairness, predictability and diligence; finding and training his successor to ensure continuity at the end of his three-year term; serving to some extent as an agent of change…over the coming years, the Commission will need to reconsider how it is organized and ensure its operations are adapted to new realities; reviewing the Commission’s internal processes to make them more flexible and adapted to the needs of the organization; and reassessing our budgetary needs,” he said.
Von Finckenstein said he’s made communications, both internal and external, a priority because “the more people understand what we do, how we do it and why we do it, the less they will criticize us; if you understand the organization’s objectives, it will be easier for you to contribute to them; and you all represent the Commission and must therefore understand the reasons for and purposes of our actions.”
Under Renée Fairweather, the new Strategic Communications Branch will provide strategic advice on all matters having to do with communications, media relations, parliamentary affairs and the industries the CRTC regulates.
