Source : Toronto Star

Liberals want new CEO, sources say; Ex-minister would still chair board

The Liberal government is poised to strip Isabel Bassett of some of her powers as chair and chief executive officer of TVOntario, sources say. Bassett, who lives in a common-law relationship with Conservative Leader Ernie Eves, has run the provincially owned educational TV network since her November, 1999, appointment by former premier Mike Harris. But high-ranking officials in Premier Dalton McGuinty's government have expressed concern that she should no longer both chair the board and run TVO's daily operations. "As chair of the board, we've had few complaints. As CEO, there are mixed reviews," a government insider said yesterday. But "this has nothing to do with her personally," said the official. "This change would be in the governance structure. TVO could benefit from a president that has had a career in running the operations of a television network of this size." Under the proposed reorganization, Bassett, 64, who earns $115,000 a year, would be retained as chair of the board. "That would make the chair a part-time job," said the insider. Asked whether she might be expected to take a pay cut, the Liberal said: "No doubt about that. You don't take away the bulk of the work and give the same pay." Sources say there is already a candidate in mind for chief executive of the network, which gets about $48 million in annual funding from the province. "We're looking at someone who has 20 or more years experience in running a TV network," the official said. Bassett was not available for comment, but TVO spokesperson Jill Javet said she was unaware of any looming changes. "Certainly Isabel is prepared to serve in any way that is in the best interests of TVO," she said. Bassett is a former Tory culture minister, broadcaster and widow of media baron John Bassett, founder of CFTO TV and publisher of the defunct Toronto Telegram.