OTTAWA – Tom Pentefountas, the recently appointed vice-chair of broadcasting at the CRTC, stood firm as opposition MPs on the Standing Committee of Canadian Heritage questioned his ability to fulfill the responsibilities of the position.
He said all the right words in his opening remarks, highlighting the challenges facing the CRTC in the face of convergence and the new realities on online viewing. “Convergence is on the verge of erasing the dividing line between broadcasting and telecommunications,” he said. “That is one of our greatest challenges.
“Moreover, to face this new reality, the CRTC must implement 25 year old legislation. This is the equivalent of applying regulations from the Jurassic period to the 21st century communications industry. There is no question that this digital environment requires different skills, approaches and strategies. We need to be smarter. We need to be more creative and we need to be more innovative.”
Despite those comments, opposition MPs attacked the broadcasting vice-chair on his complete lack of direct experience in the broadcasting sector and his close ties to the Conservative Party of Canada.
Liberal MP Pablo Rodriguez noted the job description called for someone with a substantial understanding of the CRTC and the regulatory environment in which the telecommunications industry functions, understanding issues of media convergence. “Where does your experience come in here?” he asked.
“First of all you need to have good knowledge, not necessarily expertise,” Pentefountas replied, noting that there were 25 elements listed in the job description. Besides, he added, the communications business is changing constantly and “what you need is an ability to foresee where we will be in the short term and an understanding as well of the role played by the CRTC and broadcasting in terms of protecting consumers and protecting national economic interests as well as maintaining and promoting Canadian identity. Now all of those elements must be taken into account.”
Pentefountas acknowledged during his testimony that he had not in fact applied for the vacant position. It was only after a call from Conservative Senator Leo Housakos informing him of the vacant vice-chair position that he expressed an interest.
Carole Lavallée from the Bloc pressed Pentefountas on the experience issue, noting that his appointment is the subject of so many questions because “it simply doesn’t make sense” and that his “only advantage was knowing Mr. Housakos. If you had not known Mr. Housakos, if you had not been a member of the ADQ (Action Démocratique du Québec) or the Conservative Party, would you be sitting as the vice chair of the CRTC and before us today to discuss your appointment.”
Responded Pentefountas: “It’s not for me to justify the appointment. I followed the process. I was interviewed and I was called to serve.”
Opposition members did their best to tie Pentefountas to the Conservatives even while trying to frame their questions around his appointment.
“Obviously what we’re trying to establish here is whether the rules of proper procedure were followed in your appointment. I think that’s what the underlying reason for this meeting is,” said Liberal MP Bonnie Crombie. “My concern, as with some of my colleagues here, is that you have a very cozy network of friends and associates and by coincidence very good things seem to happen to those people.” She highlighted a few people, most notably Senator Housakos and Jean Masse, both formerly of VIA Rail.
This sparked outcry from Conservative MP Dean Del Mastro, who argued that Crombie was simply “dragging people’s names through the mud for no apparent cause.”
Crombie pressed Pentefountas on specific issues such as foreign ownership restrictions, CBC/Radio-Canada’s five-year plan and usage-based billing, but the broadcasting vice-chair didn’t bite. He noted that it would be unwise to comment on such issues in this forum.
Pentefountas insisted that there wasn’t any political involvement in his hiring, noting that this was a significant process with an initial interview, a follow-up interview, reference checks and more.
His first day on the job is April 4.
