What do Jessica Rosenworcel and Vicky Eatrides have in common? Both are women who will lead the two agencies regulating radio/television and telecommunications across North America, as Eatrides has been appointed the next Chairperson and Chief Executive Officer of the Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunication Commission (CRTC).
Eatrides’ appointment is for a term of five years effective January 5, 2023. She was appointed prior to the Christmas holiday by Minister of Canadian Heritage Pablo Rodriguez.
Eatrides began her career practicing federal regulatory law at Stikeman Elliott LLP in 2000. She joined the federal public service in 2005, where she held a number of increasingly senior executive positions at the Competition Bureau of Canada, Natural Resources Canada, and the Department of Innovation, Science and Economic Development (ISED).
Eatrides held several senior roles at the Competition Bureau over a 12-year period, including Senior Deputy Commissioner in charge of enforcing criminal and civil provisions of the Competition Act. She developed expertise in telecommunications, broadcasting and new technologies by leading merger reviews, civil and criminal investigations, and regulatory interventions.
“With experience from both the public and private sector, she brings the competition, regulatory, digital, and economic expertise to lead the CRTC,” Rodriguez said.
Current CRTC Chair Ian Scott and Vice-Chair Christianne Laizner are leaving the CRTC. And, joining Eatridges on the commission are two new individuals who will serve as vice-Chairpersons: Alicia Barin and Adam Scott.
Barin has been Interim Vice-Chairperson of the CRTC since August 8, 2022. She was first appointed to the CRTC in 2019 as the Regional Commissioner for Quebec, in a direct policy and regulatory decision-making role for the broadcasting and telecommunications sectors.
If Barin’s name is familiar, it is likely because she spent more than 20 years in the Canadian broadcasting industry as a senior-level executive, holding such roles as VPof Strategic Planning for Astral Media, acquired by Bell Media in 2013.
For more than 20 years, Scott has advised the federal government on telecommunications and spectrum policy. He currently serves as Director General of the Spectrum Policy Branch at the Department of Innovation, Science and Economic Development (ISED), where he is responsible for spectrum auctions, spectrum economics and regulatory best practices for the spectrum program as a whole.
— With reporting by Carina Newton in North York, Ont.
Commercial radio stations in Canada are getting new marching orders from national regulators. The stations were lobbying to cut long-standing quotas that require a minimum of 35% Canadian content. But the Canadian Radio and Television Commission says they’ll have to stick to those quotas. And they’ll have to include more music from emerging artists.
