Jul 24, 10:10 PM

Federal Regulators Warned Against Private Barroom Meetings with Lobbyists: CRTC and Bell Criticized

Federal regulators have been cautioned against meeting privately with lobbyists, particularly in informal settings such as bars. This warning follows a reprimand from the Federal Court of Appeal, which criticized a Dec. 19, 2019 beer summit between then-CRTC CEO Ian Scott and Bell Canada CEO Mirko Bibic. The meeting, which took place in a bar and was photographed by a passerby, has been described as a 'recipe for trouble' by Justice Stratas. The court's remarks underscore the importance of maintaining transparency and avoiding conflicts of interest in regulatory practices.