New chairperson for CRTC as online news, streaming bills set to become law in new year

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A high-level bureaucrat with a background in competition law will be in charge of implementing the Liberal government’s internet-regulation legislation.

Vicky Eatrides is currently assistant deputy minister at Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada, according to a government directory.

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She worked at the Competition Bureau for 12 years, in roles including the senior deputy commissioner “in charge of enforcing criminal and civil provisions of the Competition Act,” Canadian Heritage said in a press release Monday.

“She developed expertise in telecommunications, broadcasting and new technologies by leading merger reviews, civil and criminal investigations, and regulatory interventions,” the release said.

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Her five-year term at the Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission begins on Jan. 5, 2023.

Eatrides will helm the CRTC as the broadcast and telecommunications regulator takes on new responsibilities under the Liberal government’s bills C-18 and C-11, which are currently in Parliament and likely to become law next year.

Under Bill C-18, the online news bill, the CRTC will be in charge of administering a regime requiring Google and Facebook parent company Meta to share revenues with news publishers.

Its role under online streaming legislation Bill C-11 will be more involved. The CRTC itself will be in charge of figuring out details of how to regulate online streaming platforms like Netflix and YouTube to ensure they contribute to the creation of Canadian cultural content, a process that will involve a public consultation and drafting new regulations.

More to come.