The Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission has another vacant leadership seat as the term expires for the commissioner responsible for Manitoba and Saskatchewan.

Commissioner Candice Molnar’s term ended Friday after nine years with the regulator in charge of broadcast and telecommunications policies. Her departure comes as the Department of Canadian Heritage, which administers the CRTC, is having trouble filling the top spots at the regulator, which has a packed agenda.

Only seven commissioners remain after Molnar’s departure, with two more including chairman Jean-Pierre Blais scheduled to depart this spring unless their terms are renewed. The government has not yet tried to replace her, but a spokesman for Canadian Heritage said her position will be posted online in the coming days.

There can be up to 13 commissioners. The commissioner responsible for Ontario was fired last summer after an allegation of workplace harassment and a clash with Blais over his leadership style — the decision is being challenged in a series of court cases — and the vice-chair of broadcasting resigned in 2015.

The Ontario position remains vacant. The vice-chair position was vacant for more than a year, freezing business in Quebec since the commission didn’t have the three francophone commissioners required to hold public hearings in the province. The Governor in Council temporarily filled the vice-chair role in November with long-time civil servant Judith LaRocque, but her term ends in May.

The government previously tried to fill her role on a longer-term basis but officials were looking for a more diverse pool of candidates to choose from. Once LaRocque’s and Blais’ terms expire this spring, only one francophone commissioner will remain unless Canadian Heritage speeds up its hiring process. The department is currently reviewing the CRTC’s mandate as part of its review of Canadian content in a digital world.

Before Molnar was first appointed in 2008 (she was reappointed in 2012), she held customer service and regulatory positions at SaskTel. Molnar, who was not available for an interview, volunteers with organizations that promote opportunities for women.

Molnar sat on numerous panels throughout her time on the commission, including recent high profile decisions on declaring broadband Internet a basic service and the Let’s Talk TV hearings that resulted in $25 basic cable packages and pick-and-pay channels.

“Candice Molnar has done a tremendous amount of work for the CRTC and for Canadians,” CRTC spokeswoman Patricia Valladao said in an email.

“She made significant contributions to the broadcasting and telecommunications sectors, which have improved access to communication services in all regions of Canada, including the North, fostered competition and choice for all Canadians, and created a more dynamic marketplace.”

Financial Post

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