OTTAWA, April 11, 2005 — The Honourable David L. Emerson, Minister of Industry, today announced the appointment of Dr. Gerri Sinclair, Hank Intven and André Tremblay as members of the Telecommunications Policy Review Panel.
The panel will conduct a review of Canada's telecommunications policy and regulatory framework, and make recommendations to make it a model of 21st century regulation.
"A strong Canadian telecommunications industry delivering the world's best services is essential to improve Canada's economic competitiveness, achieve social objectives across the country and benefit all consumers," said Minister Emerson. "I am delighted three such qualified individuals have agreed to take on this crucial task."
This panel brings a considerable understanding of telecommunications from three distinct perspectives. Dr. Sinclair has extensive knowledge of Internet technology and experience as a high-tech entrepreneur. Mr. Intven has a long history of addressing legal and regulatory issues in telecommunications in Canada as well as in more than 20 other countries. Mr. Tremblay spent more than 20 years in management positions at telecommunications companies. In addition to the expertise of Dr. Sinclair, Mr. Intven and Mr. Tremblay, the panel will be relying on consultations with interested stakeholders.
The government is currently addressing a number of telecommunications policy issues that can be fixed in the shorter term, such as unwanted telemarketing, wireless number portability and empowering the Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission with direct fining authority. Taking immediate action on existing issues while at the same time launching a forward-looking review is consistent with the government's smart regulation commitments.
The panel has been asked to deliver a final report by the end of 2005.
Biographical notes and a backgrounder concerning the terms of reference for the review are attached.
For further information, please contact:
Christiane Fox
Office of the Honourable David L. Emerson
Minister of Industry
(613) 995-9001
Media Relations
Industry Canada
(613) 943-2502
Backgrounder
Appointment of Members to the Telecommunications Policy Review Panel
Terms of Reference
The government recognizes the critical importance of the telecommunications sector to Canada's future well-being and the need for a modern policy framework. To ensure that the telecommunications industry continues to support Canada's long-term competitiveness, the government is appointing a panel of eminent Canadians to review Canada's telecommunications framework. The panel is asked to make recommendations on how to move Canada toward a modern telecommunications framework in a manner that benefits Canadian industry and consumers.
— Budget 2005
Objective
The government's objective is to ensure that Canada has a strong, internationally competitive telecommunications industry, which delivers world-class affordable services and products for the economic and social benefit of all Canadians in all regions of Canada.
The panel is asked to make recommendations that will help achieve this objective.
Structure
A panel of three Canadians has been named by the Minister of Industry. It is expected that the panel will:
- receive submissions from interested parties as its primary means of gathering information;
- hold public consultation with the aim of gathering additional information or clarifying submissions; and
- commission a limited number of contextual reports (e.g. an international benchmarking of policy and regulatory frameworks, or an analysis of the applicability of alternative dispute resolution mechanisms).
Timing
The panel is asked to make recommendations to the Minister of Industry before the end of 2005.
Areas of Interest
Creating the right framework for telecommunications involves maintaining an up-to-date regulatory regime, fostering an environment that improves access for all sectors of the economy, and encouraging the adoption of advanced applications and services. The panel is asked to study and report on three areas that must continue to evolve in order to keep pace with rapid changes in technology, consumer demand and market structure: regulation, access, and information and communications technologies (ICT) adoption.
Regulation
The existing regulatory regime was designed to facilitate the introduction of competition into an industry previously structured around monopolies. The development and deployment of advanced technology, such as Internet Protocol-based services, high-speed Internet access and wireless broadband communications, combined with maturing consumer demand, have had a profound effect on the telecommunication industry and have started to change the shape and structure of the industry. Governments face the challenge of regulating the industry as it exists today and protecting the interests of its users, while at the same time not standing in the way of progress or restricting the benefits and adoption of advanced telecommunications networks and services.
The panel is asked to make recommendations on how to implement an efficient, fair, functional and forward-looking regulatory framework that serves Canadian consumers and businesses, and that can adapt to a changing technological landscape.
Access
A key objective of Canada's telecommunication policy is the provision of reliable and affordable telecommunications for Canadians in all parts of the country, and in all sectors of the economy. Great success has been achieved in providing basic telephone service thanks in large part to internally generated cross subsidies. However, the increasingly competitive nature of the industry substantially limits the ability to cross subsidize. At the same time, consumer expectations have grown. Access beyond traditional voice services to advanced telecommunications connectivity and high-speed networks is now expected. Challenges remain, not only in closing the existing service and accessibility gaps, but also in ensuring that Canada keeps pace with ever-changing technology and consumer demand.
The panel is asked to recommend mechanisms that will ensure that all Canadians continue to have an appropriate level of access to modern telecommunications services.
ICT Adoption
A primary principle of Canadian telecommunications policy is that the telecommunications system should safeguard, enrich, and strengthen the social and economic fabric of Canada. Not only is telecommunications an important sector in its own right, it is also a powerful enabler within the economy and society as a whole; a new platform for the delivery of traditional services, such as health care and education, as well as for innovative new services. Research and development efforts continue to produce innovative ICT. Given the impact ICT has on productivity, Canada must ensure that its levels of technology adoption remain competitive with the world's other leading economies.
The panel is asked to make recommendations on measures to promote the development, adoption and expanded use of advanced telecommunications services across the economy. In this context, the panel is also asked to report on the appropriateness of Canada's current levels of ICT investment.
In addition to these specific areas of interest, the panel is encouraged to study and report on any other issues that, in its opinion, are essential to creating a modern telecommunications framework.
Biographical Notes
Dr. Gerri Sinclair
Dr. Gerri Sinclair is an Internet technology consultant to industry and government. The former General Manager of Microsoft Network Canada, she is a director of the Canada Foundation for Innovation, sits on the board of directors of the Communications Research Centre and was recently appointed to the new British Columbia Competition Council. She has broad public and private sector experience, having served with the Information Highway Advisory Council and CANARIE Inc., and on the boards of TELUS and BC Telecom. She is the recipient of the 1999 Canadian Women in Communications' Woman of the Year Award, the 1999 Canadian Women in New Media Pioneer Award, the 2000 Influential Woman in Business Award, as well as the 2003 Sarah Kirke award for the most outstanding Canadian woman in high tech.
Hank Intven
Hank Intven is a partner in the Toronto office of McCarthy Tétrault LLP, a leading Canadian law firm. He has over 25 years of experience in issues related to the telecommunications industry in Canada and in more than 20 other countries. Over this time he has worked with telecom, cable, satellite and other wireless service providers, investors, governments, regulators and consumers. He has been involved in many of the major legal, regulatory and business developments that have affected the Canadian and international telecommunications industries. He has also served as counsel for the Consumers' Association of Canada and was Executive Director of Telecommunications at the Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission from 1981-85.
André Tremblay
André Tremblay has more than 20 years experience in the telecommunications industry, where he has been actively involved in the conception, financing and management of several companies. For almost 10 years, Mr. Tremblay served as President and Chief Executive Officer of Microcell Telecommunications Inc., which he led from its formation on through the different phases of its evolution. He has also provided early-stage financing, along with strategic advice and direction, for start-up technology firms. Mr. Tremblay regularly lectures in the areas of corporate finance and management, and sits on the boards of directors of a number of corporations and non-profit organizations.