https://twitter.com/DavidRayAmos/with_replies




  David Raymond Amos‏ @DavidRayAmos 

Replying to @DavidRayAmos @Kathryn98967631 and 49 others

Methinks the lawyer John Lawford plays he part quite well in this wicked game against our interests N'esy Pas?


 https://davidraymondamos3.blogspot.com/2018/12/consumer-group-that-battles-big-telcos.html

  #nbpoli #cdnpoli   #CRTC


https://www.cbc.ca/news/business/public-interest-advocacy-centre-at-risk-of-shutting-down-1.4946597

Consumer group that battles the big telcos blames CRTC for its 'dire' financial troubles

221 Comments 
Commenting is now closed for this story.

  

David Barry Cooper

The CRTC is a pawn of the telco's. All you have to do is look at the number of stories in the news over the past 6 months about customer complaints over service, billing etc. And the reaction of the CRTC has been....? That's correct, nothing.

Arthur Edwards

@David Barry Cooper - fully agree. Same tactic as Whitaker suggesting cutting funding on the Mueller investigation. There is just no legitimate reason that the telcoms have over 9 months to pay costs. Once cost are awarded they should be payable within 30 days - just like consumers have to pay their bills within 30 days, and you know they can afford to. Pathetic.

Dawn Lewis

@David Barry Cooper CRTC is a part of government. Government is a pawn to the Telco's. The CRTC does what the government wants it to do, make no mistake about it.
Your Liberals and your PC's are to blame for this bloody mess. I am in total favour in bringing in foriegn cellular companies because the Canadian ones are crooks.

David Amos

@David Barry Cooper I agree but I also believe that the lawyer John Lawford plays he part quite well in this wicked game against our interests why else would he not answer his emails. You can bet that I just called him again.

https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/new-brunswick/fundy-royal-riding-profile-1.3274276

David Amos

@David Amos "PIAC was created in Canada in 1976, as Ralph Nader was leading the charge for consumer protections south of the border"

Methinks PIAC and their hero Ralph Nader must know is that a lot of folks really liked the Chevy Corvair Many would agree what the evil Yankee lawyer did was not fair He did it all just to promote himself N'esy Pas?
 

Solomon Kane

@David Amos
I don't think those words mean what you think they mean

Solomon Kane

@David Amos
I can't even find his name in that article, unless you are talking about the comments?

Solomon Kane

@David Barry Cooper
I wonder how many members of the CRTC go to work for the tekco companies after they retire?

---------- Original message ----------
From: Navdeep.Bains@parl.gc.ca
Date: Mon, 17 Dec 2018 18:27:52 +0000
Subject: Automatic reply: Methinks the lawyer John Lawford should
learn how to respond to people he claims to represent before he whines
to CBC about funding N'esy Pas?
To: motomaniac333@gmail.com

?Thank you for your email submission. The office of the Hon. Navdeep
Bains, Member of Parliament for Mississauga- Malton has received your
email and a member of our team will review your email.

Kind Regards,
The office of the Hon. Navdeep Bains, P.C., M.P.
Member of Parliament for Mississauga - Malton

---------- Original message ----------
From: David Amos <motomaniac333@gmail.com>
Date: Mon, 17 Dec 2018 14:27:47 -0400
Subject: Methinks the lawyer John Lawford should learn how to respond
to people he claims to represent before he whines to CBC about funding
N'esy Pas?
To: piac@piac.ca, mirko.bibic@bell.ca, "pablo.rodriguez"
<pablo.rodriguez@parl.gc.ca>, mckeen.randy@gmail.com, "randy.mckeen"
<randy.mckeen@gnb.ca>, "steve.murphy" <steve.murphy@ctv.ca>, nmoore
<nmoore@bellmedia.ca>, Newsroom <Newsroom@globeandmail.com>, oldmaison
<oldmaison@yahoo.com>, andre <andre@jafaust.com>, jbosnitch
<jbosnitch@gmail.com>, "Navdeep.Bains" <Navdeep.Bains@parl.gc.ca>
Cc: David Amos <david.raymond.amos@gmail.com>,
"Erica.J\"Erica.Johnson\"" <Erica.Johnson@cbc.ca>, "martine.turcotte"
<martine.turcotte@bell.ca>, gopublic <gopublic@cbc.ca>

https://www.cbc.ca/news/business/public-interest-advocacy-centre-at-risk-of-shutting-down-1.4946597

Consumer group that battles the big telcos blames CRTC for its 'dire'
financial troubles
Created in 1976, the Public Interest Advocacy Centre says it's on the
verge of shutting its doors for good
Erica Johnson · CBC News · Posted: Dec 17, 2018 6:00 AM ET


154 Comments


David Barry Cooper
The CRTC is a pawn of the telco's. All you have to do is look at the
number of stories in the news over the past 6 months about customer
complaints over service, billing etc. And the reaction of the CRTC has
been....? That's correct, nothing.


Arthur Edwards
@David Barry Cooper - fully agree. Same tactic as Whitaker suggesting
cutting funding on the Mueller investigation. There is just no
legitimate reason that the telcoms have over 9 months to pay costs.
Once cost are awarded they should be payable within 30 days - just
like consumers have to pay their bills within 30 days, and you know
they can afford to. Pathetic.


David Amos
@David Barry Cooper I agree but I also believe that the lawyer John
Lawford plays he part quite well in this wicked game against our
interests why else would he not answer his emails. You can bet that I
just called him again.

https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/new-brunswick/fundy-royal-riding-profile-1.3274276


Fundy Royal campaign targets middle class with focus on jobs

Fundy Royal voters have elected Conservatives all but 1 time in 28
elections over 101 years
CBC News · Posted: Oct 17, 2015 6:00 AM AT


56 Comments

David Amos
I must Say I am rather impressed at CBC's sudden fit of Integrity to
allow my posts to stand the test of time for a few hours at least. (:
Rest assured that I have been saving digital snapshots just in case
they delete and block me as usual :)

In return here is an old scoop about CTV that CBC and everybody else
and his dog has been ignoring for 11 very long years after I ran in
the election of the 38th Parliament against the aptly named lawyer Rob
Moore.

http://thedavidamosrant.blogspot.ca/2013/08/re-bce-and-jean-pierre-blais-of-crtc.html

----- Original Message -----
From: martine.turcotte@bell.ca
To: motomaniac_02186@hotmail.com
Cc: bcecomms@bce.ca ; W-Five@ctv.ca
Sent: Thursday, August 19, 2004 9:28 AM
Subject: RE: I am curious

Mr. Amos, I confirm that I have received your documentation. There is
no need to send us a hard copy. As you have said yourself, the
documentation is very voluminous and after 3 days, we are still in the
process of printing it. I have asked one of my lawyers to review it
in my absence and report back to me upon my return in the office. We
will then provide you with a reply.

Martine Turcotte
Chief Legal Officer / Chef principal du service juridique
BCE Inc. / Bell Canada
1000 de La Gauchetière ouest, bureau 3700
Montréal (Qc) H3B 4Y7

Tel: (514) 870-4637
Fax: (514) 870-4877
email: martine.turcotte@bell.ca

Executive Assistant / Assistante à la haute direction: Diane Valade
Tel: (514) 870-4638
email: diane.valade@bell.ca


---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: David Amos <motomaniac333@gmail.com>
Date: Tue, 21 May 2013 03:02:26 -0300
Subject: Fwd: RE BCE, Cogeco, Quebecor, Astral and Jean-Pierre Blais of the CRTC
To: piac@piac.ca, mirko.bibic@bell.ca, MulcaT@parl.gc.ca,
yves.mayrand@cogeco.com, regaffairs@quebecor.com,
ken.engelhart@rci.rogers.com, mckeen.randy@gmail.com,
christianne.laizner@crtc.gc.ca, Phil.Charron@crtc.gc.ca,
martine.turcotte@bell.ca
Cc: Minister.Industry@ic.gc.ca, david.raymond.amos@gmail.com,
Nick.Moore@bellmedia.ca, karl.liberty@crtc.gc.ca

http://www.theglobeandmail.com/report-on-business/jean-pierre-blais-to-steer-a-different-kind-of-crtc/article4242778/

http://www.theglobeandmail.com/report-on-business/merged-bce-astral-could-manipulate-markets-advocacy-group-warns/article11744928/

http://www.piac.ca/telecom/bell_astral_2_hearing_day_2/

Public Interest Advocacy Centre
ONE Nicholas Street, Suite 1204
Ottawa, ON K1N 7B7
(613) 562-4002 Lawford ext 25
piac@piac.ca


---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: David Amos <myson333@yahoo.com>
Date: Mon, 10 Sep 2012 13:34:14 -0700 (PDT)
Subject: RE BCE, Cogeco, Quebecor, Astral and Jean-Pierre Blais of the CRTC
To: pauline.michaud@bell.ca, gbuck@mccarthy.ca,
brian.facey@blakes.com, babramson@mccarthy.ca
Cc: motomaniac333@gmail.com, smhorn@stikeman.com, sminzberg@dwpv.com,
dlastman@goodmans.ca

http://www.mccarthy.ca/lawyer_detail.aspx?id=3453

http://www.mccarthy.ca/lawyer_detail.aspx?id=6294

http://www.blakes.com/english/people/lawyers2.asp?LAS=BAF

http://www.stikeman.com/cps/rde/xchg/se-en/hs.xsl/Profile.htm?ProfileID=32200

http://www.dwpv.com/en/People/Samuel-Minzberg

http://www.goodmans.ca/People/Dale_Lastman

From: mirko.bibic@bell.ca <mirko.bibic@bell.ca>
Subject: Out of Office: RE BCE, Cogeco, Quebecor, Astral and
Jean-Pierre Blais of the CRTC
To: "David Amos" <myson333@yahoo.com>
Date: Monday, September 10, 2012, 1:03 PM


Please take note that I will be unable to respond promptly to emails
during the week of September 10th due to a CRTC hearing.  For
immediate assistance, please contact my assistant Pauline Michaud, at
pauline.michaud@bell.ca

Thank you,
Mirko Bibic




From: Nick Moore <Nick.Moore@bellmedia.ca>
Subject: Automatic reply: RE BCE, Cogeco, Quebecor, Astral and
Jean-Pierre Blais of the CRTC
To: "David Amos" <myson333@yahoo.com>
Date: Monday, September 10, 2012, 1:02 PM


Hello, I will be away from the CTV Fredericton newsroom until Monday
September 17. If you have a general inquiry or news tip, please
contact my colleague Andy Campbell in the CTV Fredericton newsroom at
506.459.1010 or by e-mail at andy.campbell@bellmedia.ca All other
inquiries can be made directly to the CTV Atlantic News Centre at
902.454.4000. Thanks, Nick Moore, CTV News

--- On Mon, 9/10/12, David Amos <myson333@yahoo.com> wrote:


From: David Amos <myson333@yahoo.com>
Subject: RE BCE, Cogeco, Quebecor, Astral and Jean-Pierre Blais of the CRTC
To: peter.foster@crtc.gc.ca, martine.turcotte@bell.ca,
mirko.bibic@bell.ca, andy.campbell@bellmedia.ca, nmoore@bellmedia.ca,
michaelf@cablecable.net
Cc: Minister.Industry@ic.gc.ca, david.raymond.amos@gmail.com,
MulcaT@parl.gc.ca, yves.mayrand@cogeco.com, regaffairs@quebecor.com,
ken.engelhart@rci.rogers.com, mckeen.randy@gmail.com,
oldmaison@yahoo.com
Date: Monday, September 10, 2012, 1:02 PM



Advising on BCE’s blockbuster $3.3 billion bid for Astral
March 26, 2012. 4:41 pm • Section: Moves Deals and Takes
  2 320


Posted by:
Kathryn Leger

Recent Posts From This Author

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business of justice?Posted on Aug 10, 2012
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on Aug 7, 2012
Quebec lawyers awarded with honour titlesPosted on Jul 20, 2012


With the ink still fresh on the proposed blockbuster $3.38-billion bid
by BCE Inc. for Astral Media Inc., attention is now focused on
regulatory approval for the deal that would create the largest media
enterprise in Canada.
Analysts are already speculating on how many radio stations might have
to be sold off and how the estimated 42% audience share among
English-language television services the combined company would own
will be viewed by regulators as the proposed deal come under the
scrutiny of the Canadian Radio-Television and Telecommunications
Commission (CTRC) and the Canadian Competition Bureau.
McCarthy Tétrault LLP, lead outside counsel to BCE on the Astral
transaction, has Grant Buchanan, a veteran Toronto communications
lawyer who focuses his practice on broadcast and telecom regulation,
and telecom and media lawyer Bram Abramson working on CRTC aspects of
the deal. Blake Cassels & Graydon LLP, which was outside counsel to
BCE on the deal’s competition aspects, is advising on the merger
approvals process before the Competition Bureau with a team led by
Brian Facey, the Toronto-based co-chair of Blakes Competition Group,
and including Micah Wood and Mark Graham.
Those working behind the scenes on the deal include:
BCE: Michel Lalande, senior vice-president and general counsel; Martin
Cossette, assistant general counsel, corporate development and mergers
and acquisitions; Ildo Ricciuto, assistant general counsel, financing
and compliance; Pierre-Luc Hébert, assistant general counsel, legal
and regulatory affairs; and Jean-François Laroche, senior legal
counsel, mergers and acquisitions.
Astral: Jocelyn Côté, senior vice-president, regulatory and government
affairs; Nathalie Dorval, vice-president, regulatory affairs and
copyright; Brigitte K. Catellier, vice-president, legal affairs and
secretary; Dany Meloul, vice-president, legal and regulatory affairs,
and affiliates relations; Claude Laflamme, vice-president, corporate
and regulatory affairs; and Megan O’Neail, vice-president, business
and legal affairs.
McCarthy (outside counsel to BCE):  Gary Girvan and Frédéric Cotnoir,
along with Stéphanie Lee, Benjamin Silver, Fraser Bourne, Michèle
Lefaivre, Éléonore Derome, Krista Lawson, (corporate/securities);
Barry Ryan, Gordon Baird and Richard O’Doherty (financial services);
Frédéric Harvey, Annie Maillot-Gamelin (tax).
Stikeman Elliott LLP(outside counsel for Astral): Sidney Horn, Robert
Carelli, Sophie Lamonde, Christine Legé, Aniko Pelland, Hadrien
Montage, David Tardif (cecurities/M&A/corporate); Luc Bernier, Franco
Gadoury and Éric Lévesque (tax), and Susan Hutton (regulatory).
Davies Ward Phillips & Vineberg LLP (acting for the Greenberg family,
Astral’s controlling shareholder): Samuel Minzberg and Richard Cherney
(M&A), Rhonda Rudnick (taxation and trusts and estates) and Olivier
Désilets (corporate/commercial).
Goodmans (representing the special committee of Astral’s board of
directors): Dale Lastman and Robert Vaux (M&A and corporate), Richard
Annan (competition) and Michael Koch (regulatory).

--- On Mon, 9/10/12, Mousseau, Hugues <hmousseau@astral.com> wrote:

From: Mousseau, Hugues <hmousseau@astral.com>
Subject: Réponse automatique : Mr Mousseau
To: "David Amos" <myson333@yahoo.com>
Date: Monday, September 10, 2012, 12:42 PM

Bonjour, je suis présentement à l'extérieur du bureau avec un
accèslimité à mes emails.

En cas d'urgence, veuillez SVP communiquer avec moi au 514-945-8358.

Merci !
===

Hi, I am currently away from the office with a limited access to emails.

In case of an emergency, please contact me at 514-945-8358.

Thanks!

----
Hugues Mousseau
Directeur, communications corporatives et synergies
Director, Corporate Communications and Synergies
Astral Media inc.
1800, McGill College
Bureau 2700
Montréal (Québec) H3A 3J6
514-939-5001 x 3240
hmousseau@astral.com


--- On Mon, 9/10/12, David Amos <myson333@yahoo.com> wrote:


From: David Amos <myson333@yahoo.com>
Subject: Mr Mousseau
To: hmousseau@astral.com
Cc: motomaniac333@gmail.com, nicole.tardif@cogeco.com
Date: Monday, September 10, 2012, 12:42 PM

Robert Fortier
Vice-President, Finance and Chief Financial Officer 1800, avenue McGill College
Bureau 2700
Montréal  (Quebec)
H3A 3J6
(514) 939-5001
(514) 939-1515


Hugues Mousseau
Director, Corporate Communications and Synergies Astral Media inc.
1800, avenue McGill College
Bureau 2700
Montréal  (Québec)
H3A 3J6
(514) 939-5000
(514) 939-1515
hmousseau@astral.com

Pierre Gagné
Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer
Tel. : 514-764-4756
Visit the investors section

MEDIAS
Nicole Tardif
Director, Corporate Communications
514-764-4685
nicole.tardif@cogeco.com

Consumer group that battles the big telcos blames CRTC for its 'dire' financial troubles

Created in 1976, the Public Interest Advocacy Centre says it's on the verge of shutting its doors for good

Erica Johnson · CBC News · Posted: Dec 17, 2018 6:00 AM ET 

John Lawford, executive director of the Public Interest Advocacy Centre, says he has downsized the office of the Ottawa-based group in a 'desperate attempt to save money.' (Submitted by John Lawford)

If you own a cellphone, use the internet or watch TV, your life has probably been affected by one of the most influential consumer advocacy organizations in the country — a group on the verge of shutting its doors for good.

For the past 42 years, the Public Interest Advocacy Centre [PIAC] has fought for better consumer protections from the telecom and broadcast industries.

But in a matter of weeks, PIAC says it will run out of money because the CRTC, the industry regulator the group so often prods, takes too long to compel the big telcos to pay the group for its work on behalf of consumers.

"We don't exactly know why it's taking so long to get paid," PIAC executive director John Lawford told Go Public. "It's a dire time right now."

In a recent email to supporters, Lawford describes "an acute funding crunch" and says his organization will be unable to keep going without urgent help.

The CRTC has more than doubled the length of time it takes to order telecom companies to pay PIAC's costs when it participates in regulatory issues. (Shutterstock)

The Ottawa-based advocacy organization recently moved to a smaller office to save money, and had to let two of its four staff members go.

But Lawford says that hasn't been enough to stay afloat.

Where's the money?

Most of PIAC's budget comes from work the organization does at the CRTC.

"We go there as lawyers to argue for consumers," Lawford said. "We try to get them lower prices and better service."

When groups argue in the public interest before the CRTC, the regulator orders that the cost of that legal representation be paid by the companies involved — such as Bell Canada, Rogers, Telus and Netflix.

"It's a regular regulatory cost for the companies," Lawford said. "It's an important check on their sort of full-speed-ahead efforts to get what they want from the CRTC. And it's a small and very efficient price to pay to have consumer and public input on decisions that affect millions of Canadians."

Lawford, second from right, testifies at the recent public hearing into sales tactics used by Canada’s largest telecom service providers. PIAC had urged the CRTC to hold the hearing. (CPAC)

He says over the past five years, the CRTC has more than doubled the length of time it takes to order telecom companies to pay those costs, from 3.7 months to 9.6 months. That's simply too long to wait for funding, Lawford says.

PIAC is currently owed just over $150,000. The oldest outstanding claim was filed with the CRTC in July 2017.

"I think the CRTC has forgotten how it's supposed to function," Lawford said.

PIAC is also a registered charity and a non-profit organization, although its 2017 financial statement shows it received just $1,940 in donations.

Lawford bristles at the idea of asking the public to provide the organization's funding.

"We've previously had a system that put the cost of this where it should lie," he said. "Which is at the feet of the companies who are making billions and billions of dollars from consumers."

CRTC will decide about payment 'in due course'

Go Public asked the CRTC why it takes so long to make what's called a "cost award" — calling on telecom companies to reimburse PIAC for its participation on consumer issues.

In an emailed response, spokesperson Patricia Valladao said it "depends on the complexity of the issues in each cost application."

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She also said the number of interveners applying for funding and the length of the proceeding can affect how quickly groups such as PIAC are paid. She said the regulator will make a decision about PIAC's current application for payment "in due course."

Consumer victories

PIAC opened in Ottawa in 1976, during the heyday of consumer activism in the U.S., led by Ralph Nader and his Public Interest Research Group.

Lawford joined PIAC in 2003. The idea of battling powerful telecom companies on behalf of consumers appealed to him.

"It was a chance to fight on a level playing field, if only for a moment," he said. "And we got some big wins."

PIAC was created in Canada in 1976, as Ralph Nader was leading the charge for consumer protections south of the border. (Jay Drowns/Associated Press)

In 2010, the CRTC ordered Bell Canada, Telus and other phone companies to refund every customer up to nearly $100 after overcharging for regular phone service. The rebate was the result of four years of hard work by PIAC and other consumer groups.

Lawford himself received one of those rebate cheques. It's framed on his office wall — a memento of the fight that resulted in telcos having to refund $310 million.

• GO PUBLIC
  Bell insider reveals high-pressure sales tactics required on every single call

The Wireless Code, a mandatory code of conduct for all wireless providers, was also hugely influenced by PIAC, Open Media and other consumer groups.

"So now there are rules about how long your wireless contract can be, and whether you can be charged when you're roaming above a certain cap, and so on," Lawford said. "These developments really helped consumers."

Most recently, PIAC urged the CRTC to hold a public inquiry into misleading and aggressive sales practices used by the telcos.

PIAC called for the creation of the Commission for Complaints for Telecom-Television Services, a dispute mediator between telecom customers and their service providers. (Andrew Lee/CBC)

When the regulator refused, saying such an inquiry was not within its mandate, PIAC insisted that it was, and the federal government eventually ordered the CRTC to hold an inquiry. It is due to wrap up in February.

"Our role is to say, when consumers are having a problem that is actually affecting their bottom line in a big way… 'As a regulator, you have to deal with it,'" Lawford said.

The group recently wrote a letter to Heritage Minister Pablo Rodriguez and Innovation, Science and Economic Development Minister Navdeep Bains urging them to contact the CRTC to help resolve the payment issues for groups like PIAC.

"We believe in your commitment to ensuring the CRTC carries out its public interest mandate and we request your assistance with this matter on an urgent basis," wrote Harry Gow, chair of PIAC's board of directors.

• CRTC urged to hold inquiry into telecom sales tactics

• CRTC reviewing controversial 'zero-rating' in internet plans

PIAC wrote a similar letter to government last year, which Lawford says prompted the regulator to order overdue costs be paid. But the delays are now worse, he says.

Go Public asked the federal government for its response to PIAC's letter.

In an email, Dani Keenan, press secretary for Bains, said "officials are reaching out for a status update" and "will continue to monitor this situation closely."

Hard time for consumer organizations

PIAC's financial struggle is a reflection on the state of consumer advocacy in Canada, Lawford says.

"Broad-based consumer groups are now reduced to either being run by volunteers with only one paid staff," he said, "or they are specialists like we are, who find a very small niche because that's the only way to stay solvent."

And even that "niche" approach may not save PIAC.

"It's important to have somebody to just stick up their finger in a [telecom] hearing and say, 'Excuse me, consumers think this.' And that's what we do," Lawford said. "It's just sad to see it go."

About the Author

 

Erica Johnson

Investigative reporter

Erica Johnson is an award-winning investigative journalist. She hosted CBC's consumer program Marketplace for 15 years, investigating everything from dirty hospitals to fraudulent financial advisors. As co-host of the CBC news segment Go Public, Erica continues to expose wrongdoing and hold corporations and governments to account.

• Go Public

With files from Enza Uda

CBC's Journalistic Standards and Practices