Konrad von Finckenstein
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Occupation | Public servant |
Konrad Winrich Graf Finck von Finckenstein, CM KC[2] (born April 4, 1945) is a Canadian public servant who has worked in the areas of trade, commercial, competition and communications law. He was appointed to the Order of Canada in 2022.[3]
Early life
Von Finckenstein was born in Germany and immigrated to Canada when he was 17.[4] He received a Bachelor of Arts (with Honours) from Carleton University in 1967, and a Bachelor of Laws from Queen's University in 1971.
Career
In 1973, von Finckenstein entered into the federal public service as a Legal Advisor in the
As Senior General Counsel in the Trade Negotiations Office, he was the chief legal advisor to
In 1997, von Finckenstein was appointed Commissioner of Competition and head of the Competition Bureau, a position he held until 2003. Responsible for ensuring a competitive marketplace for Canadian businesses and consumers, he reviewed proposed mergers in various sectors of the economy and investigated allegations of anti-competitive behaviour.
In 1998, when four of Canada’s biggest banks proposed to merge (Bank of Montreal/Royal Bank of Canada and Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce/Toronto-Dominion Bank), he warned that these transactions would lessen competition and result in the closure of branches and reduced services for Canadians. The following year, he reviewed and approved the merger between Air Canada and Canadian Airlines.
Also in 1998, he led an extensive criminal investigation into schemes designed to fix prices for food and feed additives, such as citric acid.
In addition to ensuring a competitive marketplace for Canadian businesses and consumers, he led the drive to create of the International Competition Network and served as the Founding Chairman.
As a Justice of the
In 2007, he was appointed
Under his leadership, the CRTC decided in 2009 to continue to exempt from its regulation broadcasting content that is distributed over the Internet and through mobile devices.
In response to the trend of industry consolidation, von Finckenstein spearheaded the development of a policy to ensure Canadian vertically integrated companies—such as Bell Canada, Rogers Communications, Shaw Communications and Quebecor—contribute to competition, innovation and consumer choice.[9] The policy contains provisions to prevent anti-competitive behaviour, and prohibits companies from offering television content to their wireless subscribers on an exclusive basis.
On November 15, 2011, the CRTC clarified how large telephone and cable companies should be compensated by the independent Internet service providers (ISPs) that access their networks.
Usage-based billing controversy
Many believed the CRTC's ruling on a proposed
See also
- BMG Canada Inc. v. John Doe
References
- ^ Genealogy of Konrad Graf Finck von Finckenstein
- ^ Raycraft, Richard (29 December 2022). "Sidney Crosby, Eugene Levy and Karina LeBlanc among 99 new Order of Canada appointees". CBC News. Retrieved 29 December 2022.
- ^ "Order of Canada appointees – December 2022". Governor General of Canada. 29 December 2022. Archived from the original on 29 December 2022. Retrieved 29 December 2022.
- ^ "Evidence - CHPC (39-1) - No. 39 - House of Commons of Canada".
- ^ "$6.7 Million in Fines Paid by Jungbunzlauer International A.G. and Haarmann & Reimer Corporation for Violations of the Competition Act". Archived from the original on 2013-01-01. Retrieved 2012-01-23.
- ^ "BMG Canada Inc. v. John Doe, 2004 FC 488, [2004] 3 F.C.R. 241".
- ^ "CRTC extends exemption for new media and calls for a national digital strategy". Archived from the original on 2011-12-22. Retrieved 2012-01-23.
- ^ "CCRTC requires Internet service providers to be more transparent about their Internet traffic management practices". Archived from the original on 2011-12-10. Retrieved 2012-01-23.
- ^ "CRTC takes action to ensure a wide choice of television programming on all platforms". Archived from the original on 2012-01-07. Retrieved 2012-01-23.
- ^ "CRTC supports choice of Internet services". Archived from the original on 2012-01-19. Retrieved 2012-01-23.
- ^ "Statement from the Chairman of the CRTC on usage-based billing". Archived from the original on 2011-02-06. Retrieved 2011-02-04.