With nearly three decades of communications policy and regulatory experience under his belt, Ian Scott has quite a bit to say as he leaves his CRTC leadership post today. Listen in as Scott asserts his “vision” for the commission and what it truly means to serve the public interest.
Scott doesn’t hold back on accomplishments, such as narrowing the digital divide, consensus building, and the biggest challenges faced on the Canadian broadcasting and telecommunications fronts since 2017.
Scott, never a media-hound, is blunt and frank when addressing criticisms of his tenure. This is a no-holds-barred conversation that includes a few personal insights touching on the Zen of woodworking.
Sticking to his guns on evidence-based decision-making, and unpacking controversies surrounding hot-buttons like the Mobile Virtual Network Operator regime, bias favouring the Big Three telecom players (Bell, Rogers and Telus), the reasoning behind infrastructure-based outcomes, and tippling with Bell’s CEO Mirko Bibic, one gets the strong impression that Scott will be heard from again in due course — every exit being an entry somewhere else.
Scott also has plenty to say about both Bill C-11 (Online Streaming Act) and Bill C-18 (Online News Act); about the stress inherent in chairing the commission; and about why he prefers not to look at his CRTC tenure as leaving a personal legacy.
This is a conversation deeply respectful of his colleagues and staff at the CRTC, and one softly lamenting the public’s lack of awareness regarding the importance of the CRTC’s roughly 500 annual decisions and orders impacting the lives of all Canadians.
In closing remarks, Scott leaves an “imaginary letter” to the next Chairperson and CEO of the CRTC Vicky Eatrides, who takes over tomorrow.
So grab a coffee and settle in.
