The CRTC announces the appointment of Vicky Eatrides

Pablo Rodriguez, Minister of Canadian Heritage, announced the appointment of Vicky Eatrides as the next Chairperson and Chief Executive Officer of the Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission (CRTC) for a term of five years, effective January 5, 2023. The Minister also announced the appointment of Alicia Barin and Adam Scott as Vice-Chairpersons of the CRTC for five-year terms effective February 8, 2023, and January 16, 2023, respectively.

Vicky Eatrides began her career practicing federal regulatory law at the national law firm Stikeman Elliott LLP in 2000. She joined the federal public service in 2005, where she held a number of increasingly senior executive positions at the Competition Bureau of Canada, Natural Resources Canada, and the Department of Innovation, Science and Economic Development (ISED). She has worked in a variety of areas, including law enforcement, policy, economic analysis, legislative affairs, international affairs and strategic communications.

Eatrides held several senior roles at the Competition Bureau over a 12-year period, including Senior Deputy Commissioner in charge of enforcing criminal and civil provisions of the Competition Act. She developed expertise in telecommunications, broadcasting and new technologies by leading merger reviews, civil and criminal investigations, and regulatory interventions.

Meanwhile, Alicia Barin has been Interim Vice-Chairperson of the CRTC since August 8, 2022. She was first appointed to the CRTC in 2019 as the Regional Commissioner for Quebec, in a direct policy and regulatory decision-making role for the broadcasting and telecommunications sectors. Barin spent over 20 years in the Canadian broadcasting industry as a senior-level executive and Vice-President of Strategic Planning for Astral Media, Canada’s largest pay and specialty television and radio broadcaster before being acquired by Bell Media in 2013.

Lastly, for more than 20 years, Adam Scott has advised the federal government on telecommunications and spectrum policy. He currently serves as Director General of the Spectrum Policy Branch at the Department of Innovation, Science and Economic Development (ISED), where he is responsible for spectrum auctions, spectrum economics and regulatory best practices for the spectrum program as a whole.

“The CRTC has an important mandate to deliver for Canadians. Technology has fundamentally changed how we communicate with each other and how we create and consume culture. The new leadership team at the CRTC will help modernize the regulator and stand up for Canadians and for our creative professionals. Congratulations to Vicky Eatrides, Alicia Barin and Adam Scott on their appointments. The CRTC will undoubtedly benefit from the shared digital, broadcasting and telecommunication expertise that these leaders will bring to the table. I would also like to thank outgoing Chair, Ian Scott, and Vice-Chair Christianne Laizner for their outstanding service to the CRTC and Canadians over the years,”  said Pablo Rodriguez, Minister of Canadian Heritage.