Former CRTC Commissioner Raj Shoan has taken the interim helm of not-for-profit advocacy group Friends of Canadian Media as he says the Canadian media ecosystem stands at a critical crossroads.

Shoan, who served as Regional Commissioner for Ontario from 2013-17, steps into the Executive Director role following the departure of Marla Boltman, who had held the position since early 2022. Since that time, he’s been a policy consultant and served as counsel for ACTRA and Toronto-headquartered communications and media software developer, Lumine.

Shoan expects to be in the role through early spring, while the board decides on its approach to hiring the organization’s next executive director.

His first order of business is re-staffing director positions, with Sebastien Higgins recently promoted to the role of Director, Strategic Communications, Campaigns and Engagement, while Devon Klaas joins as Director, Fund Development. Friends is also actively recruiting for a Director, Government Relations and Policy.

“The Board is very excited about the potential positive impact of new voices to the organization,” Shoan told Broadcast Dialogue.

“We are in a moment of heightened national consequence in Canada,” he asserted. “Canada’s media system, cultural sovereignty, and democratic resilience are under pressure from forces that are structural, geopolitical, and technological.”

“Our focus will be on building a values-driven case for Canadian media as democratic infrastructure – as an act of nation-building and renewal. In the near term, our priorities will be participating in the relevant CRTC proceedings to give effect to the Online Streaming Act and defend Canada’s right to regulate culture under CUSMA [Canada-United States-Mexico Agreement] and related trade frameworks. Over the long term, we look forward to engaging with the government on a CBC mandate review and online harms legislation.”