Federal Court Warns Against Private Meetings With Lobbyists in Ruling Favouring CRTC

Federal regulators should be wary of private meetings with lobbyists, the Federal Court of Appeal said in a ruling that reprimanded the Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission (CRTC) for a 2019 meeting between its CEO and Bell Canada’s chief executive. The CRTC’s then-CEO Ian Scott and Bell Canada CEO Mirko Bibic were photographed on Dec. 18, 2019. Taken by TekSavvy Solutions Inc., the photo showed the two men drinking beer together at an Ottawa pub. “Why were the two together? What was discussed? Why were just the two of them there without any witnesses?” Justice David Stratas said in his July 22 ruling, as first covered by Blacklock’s Reporter....