CRTC chair Ian Scott denies breaking any rules

CRTC chair Ian Scott replies to critics calling for his resignation and the idea that the regulator is too cosy by having beers with Big Telecom after sudden U-turn on rates recommendation - Feb 01, 2022

OAKVILLE - February 1st, 2022: The Toronto Star today published an exclusive interview they had with CRTC chair Ian Scott in regards to increased pressure from critics for him to resign as he is accused of being too cosy with the large industry players he’s supposed to regulate.

“The simple answer is that nothing inappropriate was done,” says Scott in an exclusive interview with the Star in his first public comment on the issue.

“I went for a beer with someone I have known for many years …. And it ended up he chose to address a broadcasting issue a little of what Bell might be doing in the future,” says Scott in the wide ranging, nearly hour-long interview."



However, critics are suspicious of the December 19th, 2019 meeting's timing that Ian Scott had with Bell CEO Mirko Bibic at Ottawa's Darcy McGee's pub as it took place only 10 days after Bell filed their appeal with the CRTC in opposition to the CRTC's decision to reduce incumbent access rates earlier that year.

The CRTC eventually decided to grant the appeal made by Bell and other large telecom incumbent providers by fully reversing their 2019 decision back on May 27th, 2021 putting the blame on calculation "errors". This was done even though the CRTC's own previous chair Jean-Pierre Blais stated back in 2016 that it was “very disturbing” that the Canadian telecom giants “did not respect accepted costing principles and methodologies” when proposing their rates, and that Canadians’ access to a choice of broadband services was at stake.

There are also concerns as the meeting only started being recorded once it was already underway after a picture was taken of both men sitting down at a table and having beers. As per Canada's lobbyist regulations, meetings of this type are supposed to be documented on the public record before they begin.


About SkyChoice Communications
Since 2013, SkyChoice has been offering innovative and value added television, home phone and high speed Internet services across Canada. In addition to DSL and Cable, SkyChoice also offers Internet service direct to the home or business via its own WiFibe wireless fiber network which continues to expand on a regular basis. For more information, please visit: www.skychoice.ca