OTTAWA — The two vacant commissioner spots at the CRTC have been filled, with the announcement Thursday by Canadian Heritage Minister Steven Guilbeault that Ellen C. Desmond (pictured, left) has been appointed as commissioner for Atlantic Canada and Nunavut, and Nirmala Naidoo (right) as commissioner for Alberta and Northwest Territories.
Desmond is filling the vacancy left when former Atlantic Canada and Nunavut commissioner Christopher MacDonald’s five-year term ended June 16. Naidoo is taking over from former Alberta and Northwest Territories commissioner Linda Vennard, whose term expired in May. Each new commissioner will serve a five-year term.
Desmond, of New Brunswick, is the director of legal and administration with the New Brunswick Energy and Utilities Board, says the news release. Prior to joining the Energy Board in 2006, Desmond was engaged in private practice for more than 12 years. She received a Bachelor of Arts from St. Thomas University, a Bachelor of Law from the University of New Brunswick (UNB), a Masters in Social Work from Carleton University and a Masters in Law from York University. She has taught on a part-time basis at UNB Law School for several years. Desmond is the current chair of the Administrative Law Section for the Canadian Bar Association (New Brunswick Branch), a member of the board for Symphony New Brunswick, a member of the Accounting and Auditing Standards Oversight Council, and the Atlantic Canada Lead for Women General Counsel Canada.
Nirmala Naidoo, of Alberta, is a veteran award-winning television anchor, journalist and communications expert. She has worked for CTV’s W5, NBC London, Christian Science Monitor Television (London), Visnews (London), and Middle East Broadcasting (London). She was the evening news anchor for Global Calgary and CBC Calgary. She is an outspoken advocate and keynote speaker for human rights issues. Naidoo is also a champion of environmental sustainability and worked as a senior manager for the Alberta Climate Change Office and executive director for Green Calgary. She holds a Bachelor’s degree in arts from the University of Alberta and an Honours Bachelor’s degree in journalism from Carleton University. She ran unsuccessfully as a Liberal candidate for Calgary Skyview in the 2019 federal election.
