The Globe and Mail reports in its Saturday edition that an outspoken regional commissioner
at the CRTC has been terminated
with cause, the Privy Council Office confirmed on Friday. The Globe's Christina Pellegrini writes that according to an electronic copy
of an order-in-council from Thursday, the federal cabinet has
revoked the appointment of Raj
Shoan, the commissioner for Ontario
at the federal broadcast regulator, as of June
24. This rare step was made
based on the recommendation of
Heritage Minister Melanie Joly.
The CRTC reports to Parliament
through the Minister of Canadian
Heritage. The order states that Ms. Joly
wrote to Mr. Shoan, 40, on Feb. 26
and told him that certain actions
had been brought to her attention,
calling "into question his capacity to continue serving as a
commissioner." She invited him
to respond to her concerns
before a decision was made to
terminate him for cause. Mr.
Shoan replied on March 14.
Mr. Shoan is no stranger to confrontation.
He has clashed with Jean-Pierre Blais, the CRTC's
chairman, on several occasions
and their animosity has spilled
into the courts, with Mr. Shoan
filing three separate legal actions
challenging the chairman's authority.
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