Facebook. Twitter. Periscope. Meerkat. With the rise of social media and citizen journalism, it is easier than ever to stay informed about world events as they unfold. There are few substitutes, however, for the trustworthy, authoritative, in-depth news coverage provided by Canadian television stations. In this era of technological change and evolving business models, it is important not lose sight of the fundamental value of news and information that enable Canadians to participate in their democracy. Join CRTC Chairman Jean-Pierre Blais as he shares his thoughts on television news and the changes that will soon be coming to Canadian television.
About Jean-Pierre Blais
Before joining the CRTC, Mr. Blais was Assistant Secretary of the Treasury Board Secretariat’s Government Operations Sector.
From 2004 to 2011, he was Assistant Deputy Minister of Cultural Affairs at the Department of Canadian Heritage. His responsibilities included legislation, policies and programs related to copyright modernization, broadcasting, the cultural industries, the arts, as well as cultural trade policy and cultural treaties. As the Director of Investment, he reviewed transactions in the cultural sector under the Investment Canada Act.
From 1994 to 2004, after practising law with a large Montreal law firm, Mr. Blais served successively as Senior Legal Counsel, General Counsel (Broadcasting) and Executive Director (Broadcasting) at the CRTC, and as Assistant Deputy Minister of International and Intergovernmental Affairs at the Department of Canadian Heritage. In that position, he was responsible for Sport Canada, Canada’s bid for the 2010 Vancouver Winter Games, negotiating the UNESCO Treaty on Doping in Sports and Federal-Provincial cultural relations.
Mr. Blais holds a Master of Laws from the University of Melbourne, as well as a Bachelor of Civil Law and a Bachelor of Common Law from McGill University.
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