Looks like there’s a new guy running the Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission (CRTC). Late Friday, Prime Minister Stephen Harper announced Friday the appointment of Jean-Pierre Blais as new Chairperson. The five-year term is effective June 18, 2012. Previously, Blais was Assistant Deputy Minister of Cultural Affairs at Canadian Heritage; his duties there included legislation, policies and programs relating to copyright, broadcasting, cultural industries and arts policy.
Jean-Pierre will replace current acting chair Leonard Katz. The former CRTC chair, Konrad von Finckenstein, completed his term earlier this year.
Von Finckenstein clashed with the Harper government during his tenure over the regulator’s decisions on foreign ownership rules and on how Internet companies can bill their customers.