Source : Globe & Mail

A combination of patronage and gamesmanship is having a pervasive impact on the Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission, the supposedly arms-length regulator of two of our most powerful and lucrative industries.

An announcement from Heritage Minister Sheila Copps last week confirmed the appointment (as predicted here earlier this month) of Martha Wilson as the Ontario regional commissioner of the CRTC. With that appointment, she becomes another link in the extensive chain that enmeshes the Rogers Cable empire, the country's largest cable system, and the regulatory body which controls its future.

The appointment of Ms. Wilson, a former Rogers employee, follows by a few weeks the appointment to the CRTC of communications consultant and Liberal Party activist Cindy Grauer of Vancouver. Ms. Grauer has also been on the Rogers payroll, as one of a network of consultants, employees and lobbyists with political connections known as "Phil's girls" (Phillip Lind is vice-chairman of Rogers, whose responsibilities include government relations).

A more important but less visible Rogers link is the relationship between former Liberal communications minister Francis Fox and CRTC chairwoman Francoise Bertrand. Mr. Fox has worked for Rogers for several years as a lawyer, lobbyist and director, and recently became a full-time employee heading up Rogers's Quebec interests.

The former minister was particularly active on Parliament Hill last year lobbying against a private member's bill that would have put restrictions on how cable systems package specialty channels.

Ms. Bertrand is known to have consulted Mr. Fox extensively after she moved from consulting in Montreal to the CRTC chair. Indeed, CRTC insiders say she often cross-checked advice coming from the regulator's professional staff with Mr. Fox before taking action.

At Ms. Bertrand's side as CRTC vice-chairman of broadcasting is Charles Belanger, who was executive assistant to Mr. Fox when the latter was minister and then went to work for the Canadian Cable Television Association (of which Rogers is one of the most influential members).

A tight circle, definitely, and one with potentially more impact as the CRTC under Ms. Bertrand moves away from large, semi-judicial hearings, where all of the evidence is public and contestable, toward a more collegial, and closed-door, round-table format.

"Big industry players devote a great deal of energy to getting reliable proxies appointed to the commission," said Matthew Fraser, a professor of broadcast policy at Ryerson Polytechnic University and a former employee of the CRTC.

If a big cable company seeks to promote someone for the CRTC board, "a well-orchestrated campaign of subtle back-room blandishments is usually accompanied by a flurry of letters supporting a particular candidate," he said. "This gives the minister the false impression that the candidate has industry-wide backing."   Another example of political meddling with CRTC appointments, not part of the Rogers linkage, could have an impact on another big issue down the road. Foreign Minister Lloyd Axworthy is pushing to have one of his campaign supporters, Winnipeg real-estate executive Leo Cholakis, appointed to the western vacancy on the CRTC. That could be interesting if and when the CRTC considers the bid by the Winnipeg-based Canwest-Global television network to take control of WIC Western International Communications Ltd., the lucrative B.C.-based broadcaster and satellite distributor.

Some may remember that Izzy Asper, who controls Canwest-Global, is a former leader of the Manitoba Liberal Party.

All of this should give some impetus to the campaign by the public-policy lobby group Friends of Canadian Broadcasting to open up the appointment process relating to the CRTC and to other important cultural institutions such as the CBC. According to a Friends analysis of appointments since the Liberals took office, the interests of Canadian culture have taken second place to partisanship and lobbying.

Sounds like it's time for some transparency.

© Globe Information Services

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See also:

The Copps Contradiction