The Harper administration has appointed a communications consultant with federal Conservative connections to the Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission. In a news release announcing the appointment, Canadian Heritage Minister Josee Verner said Steve Simpson's "varied experience in broadcasting and information technology will be highly useful to the CRTC." But what that release doesn't mention is the fact that experience includes doing advertising for the Conservatives in British Columbia. Nor does it mention the fact, Mr. Simpson has worked on at least three political campaigns headed by Colin Metcalfe, the Harper administration's regional affairs director in this province. Those campaigns include the Knowwards Coalition and Sam Sullivan's successful bid to become Vancouver's mayor in 2005.