Source : Montreal Gazette

Françoise Bertrand leaves early for job in private sector

by Mark Lamey

Françoise Bertrand, the woman credited with giving ordinary Canadians a voice in forming broadcasting and telecommunications policy, is stepping down as chairman of the Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission.

Bertrand's mandate was set to expire in August, but in an E-mail to commission staff yesterday, she announced that she will begin a new job with Secor Consulting, effective Feb. 15. The news caught many off guard, not least those in the federal government who would have liked to announce Bertrand's departure before Secor announced her hiring.

During four years at the helm of Canada's broadcast watchdog, Bertrand steered the commission as it dealt with issues like media convergence, the Internet explosion and birth of digital television. She earned high marks all around for her fairness and willingness to voice her opinions, even when they went against the industries she regulated.

"She was a dynamic leader," said Bryan Robertson, president of the Canadian Recording Industry Association. "Compared to others who chaired that commission, she wasn't afraid of offending people if they disagreed with her."

CRIA, which represents most of the country's record labels, benefited during Bertrand's stewardship of the airwaves. Under her, the CRTC forced radio stations to increase their Canadian content requirements from 30 per cent a week to 35 per cent a day. On the other hand, CRIA was not happy when the CRTC loosened the rules to allow broadcasters to own more than two radio stations per market.

But the latter decision went a long way toward rescuing a Canadian radio industry that suffered heavy losses through much of the 1990s, said Michael McCabe, president of the Canadian Association of Broadcasters.

"Under her, the commission went from reactive to proactive," McCabe said. "She understood that great changes were on the way and looked for the best ways to face them."

More than anything, Bertrand will be remembered for taking the commission outside the big cities to hear from Canadians in small towns and isolated communities talk about what they wanted from the CBC.

"Under her, the CRTC became more interested in protecting the listener and less captive to industry interests," said Ian Morrison, spokesman for the lobby group Friends of Canadian Broadcasting.

Bertrand earned headlines when she squared off against Robert Rabinovitch, demanding that the CBC president dedicate more money to regional broadcasting and less to sports and American movies.

"She wasn't afraid to clash with the heavy hitters,'' Morrison said.

Bertrand's departure will occur after the commission hands down its ruling of the proposed merger of BCE Inc. and The Globe and Mail. The commissioners have met, made a decision and now the ruling is being drafted. Bertrand will not be chairman of hearings on the Quebecor-Vidéotron merger, expected to take place in March.

"McCabe, who received a call from Bertrand yesterday morning advising him of her departure, said timing was everything in her decision.

"From my talk with her, I think she felt she had set the pattern for the commission and that this was a stage where she could leave," McCabe said.

Under Bertrand, the CRTC forced Canada's cable broadcasters to carry both the Aboriginal People's Television Network and the French-language TVA network as part of their basic cable packages, a decision booed by the cable industry and many consumers.

Bertrand's sojourn as CRTC chairman represented "a mixed bag," said Janet Yale, president of the Canadian Cable Television Association.

"Things didn't always go our way. On the other hand, we recognize that the commission has a public-policy mandate," Yale said. "I'd always rather know where I stand with someone and I always did (with Bertrand)."

Bertrand's resume included a stint as chief executive of Radio-Quebec and another as dean of Resource Management at the Université du Quebec a Montreal. She also served as a senior manager with KPMG in Montreal.

At Secor, Bertrand will head the firm's strategic-consulting branch.

"I've known Françoise for decades and always told her that when her mandate was up she would be more than welcome to join us," said Marcel Cote, Secor's president.

Several names are already being bandied about as possible successors. They include Francois Macerola, whose term as head of Telefilm Canada expires in January; Sandra MacDonald, chairman of the National Film Board of Canada; and David Colville, a highly regarded CRTC commissioner.

Richard Stursberg, former president of the Canadian Cable Television Association, is also thought to be very interested, but too cable-friendly to be in serious contention for the job.

© The Gazette