Jean-Pierre Blais is the new chairman of the Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission.
The appointment was announced Friday; in a release, Blais was cited as someone who “brings a strong legal background and a comprehensive understanding of the broadcasting and telecommunications sectors and the role of the CRTC, having held high-level positions at the Treasury Board Secretariat, the Department of Canadian Heritage and the CRTC.”
Blais was assistant deputy minister of cultural affairs at Canadian Heritage; his duties there included legislation, policies and programs relating to copyright, broadcasting, cultural industries and arts policy.
“Mr. Blais is well qualified for the position of Chairperson of the CRTC,” Prime Minister Stephen Harpur said in the statement. “I wish him all the best as he takes on the challenges of his new role.”
Blais replaces Konrad von Finckenstein, whose term was not renewed when it ran out earlier this year, and takes over from acting chair Leonard Katz.
The appointment is a five-year term; it begins June 18.