Source : Globe & Mail

The federal government wants to reappoint the head of Canada's public broadcaster for another three-year term.

Yesterday, Prime Minister Paul Martin's office announced a proposal to give
Robert Rabinovitch a new term as president and chief executive officer of the
Canadian Broadcasting Corporation.

He was named by the Chretien government in 1999 and his term will expire on
Nov. 14.

In the next few weeks, Mr. Rabinovitch is expected to appear before the
all-party Canadian heritage committee, said Amy Butcher, spokeswoman for the
prime minister. The committee, chaired by Ottawa West-Nepean MP Marlene
Catterall, will review the proposal and make recommendations to the cabinet.

"It is ultimately cabinet's decision," Ms. Butcher said, "but the views of
the committee will be taken into account."

Given the importance of the CBC as a cultural institution, the corporation's
board of directors and the government decided the committee should review Mr.
Rabinovitch's reappointment, said Marianne Goodwin, director of communications for Canadian Heritage Minister Liza Frulla.

The post will be the first to come under the Canadian heritage committee's
scrutiny, although the government's parliamentary review process, introduced in March, has not yet been finalized.

"His reappointment is going to help him pursue the work that he started in
1999," Ms. Goodwin said. "The upgrade of CBC production equipment and
facilities, to be able to meet the requirements of the digital age."

Mr. Rabinovitch has held several government posts, including deputy minister
of communications from 1982 to 1985. In the private sector, he was chief
operating officer and executive vice-president of Claridge Inc.

"He has helped Canada's largest institution take its place on the world stage
as an award-winning producer and broadcaster," she added.

© Ottawa Citizen