Canadian Heritage committee  This is clearly the challenge of the day, I think you're absolutely right. There are very much divided ideas as to how quickly this new media will come on, and to what extent it will displace or undermine or bypass the existing structure. So we really have the chance of, number o

Canadian Heritage committee  Any merger goes to a dual examination. First of all, you have to get it past the Competition Act: that it doesn't lead to a lessening of competition. The Competition Bureau basically looks at the market. For the market, they look at it as advertising: does it really restrict the

Canadian Heritage committee  At the CRTC we regulate according to the mandate given us by statute. That mandate requires an awful lot of discretion and judgment, because it is really stated in principles rather than in specific tasks what to do or what not to do. We're basically told to do whatever is necess

Canadian Heritage committee  You're asking me to predict what will happen, which is always a bit dangerous. If, in one year, we see that the order, and the way it has been interpreted, are not working and go against the general policy, we will attempt to find ways to avoid the adverse consequences.

Canadian Heritage committee  Mr. Angus, you caught me by surprise. I don't know what dates you're quoting, what cases are involved, etc. If you want me to, I can gladly give you, in writing, chapter and verse on each one of these cases. As you know, this is my first week in the job, and you are quoting from

Canadian Heritage committee  No, but you're making the suggestion that we didn't follow due process.

Canadian Heritage committee  I'm sorry; my apologies.

Canadian Heritage committee  Media concentration is obviously a concern. Diversity of voices is one of the things we have to encourage as part of our mandate under the Competition Act. You are looking at the one side, which is the concentration of media. We also, at the same time, have an explosion of fora

Canadian Heritage committee  As you know, certain provisions in the Telecommunications Act allow the minister to issue orders. They must be general orders. They must be tabled at this committee and publicly debated. They can then be amended or left as is. Under the current system, the CRTC acts as an indepe

Canadian Heritage committee  Pardon me, can you please repeat the last part of your question?

Canadian Heritage committee  As Commissioner of the Competition Bureau, I was the champion of competition. I looked at everything from a competitive point of view. My role was to spear competition, whereas my role as Chairman of the CRTC is to administer telecommunication systems and to develop regulations.

Canadian Heritage committee  This is a matter of policy. There is no wrong or right way of moving ahead. It is a matter of degree. The minister has chosen an approach that is slightly different from that of the Commission, and this is his right. If you approve this order, the decision will be final. The dec

Canadian Heritage committee  We are going to enforce this order, because it is holistic in nature. Naturally, we enjoy some leeway in interpreting the order. Regardless, we are going to move to implement the order in accordance with what it clearly states.

Canadian Heritage committee  As you know, I'm a lawyer and a former judge. I approach these things through that prism. First of all, what is my mandate, the objectives of this job? The mandate is clearly laid down in the two key acts: the Broadcasting Act and the Telecommunications Act. Of course there's t

Canadian Heritage committee  Yes, with pleasure. There are all sorts of assertions and allegations about the CTF, how it functions and what it does and doesn't do. The first thing is, let's have the facts. Let's find out what the facts are and have people speak to us in the comfort of confidentiality so th