November 04, 2004
Ottawa, Ontario

NEWS RELEASE

Prime Minister Paul Martin today announced that the Government of Canada is proposing to reappoint Robert Rabinovitch as President and Chief Executive Officer of the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation (CBC). He was first appointed on November 15, 1999.

This proposed reappointment will be referred to the Standing Committee on Canadian Heritage for review. The new process for Parliamentary review of appointments is not yet finalized. However, given the importance of the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation as one of Canada's primary cultural institutions, the Government has decided to provide the Standing Committee with the opportunity to review this proposed reappointment. The Government looks forward to receiving the result of the Standing Committee’s review as soon as possible.

“Mr. Rabinovitch is well-known for his outstanding career achievements in both the public and private sectors, and for his long-standing commitment to Canada’s cultural industry. He is admired and respected by his peers, and I am very pleased that he has agreed to continue his work at the CBC,” said Prime Minister Martin.

Mr. Rabinovitch has had a distinguished career in the Public Service, having served as Deputy Minister of Communications from 1982-1985 and in several senior positions in the Privy Council Office, including Deputy Secretary to the Cabinet and Senior Assistant Secretary for Priorities and Planning.

In the private sector, Mr. Rabinovitch served as Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer of Claridge Inc. He was also on the Boards of Cineplex Odeon Corporation and NetStar Communications, and as a Special Advisor to the boards of MaxLink Communications and Loews Cineplex.

Mr. Rabinovitch has also been active in cultural and philanthropic endeavours including the Canadian Executive Service Organization (CESO), the CRB Foundation, the Samuel and Saidye Bronfman Family Foundation, the Canadian Film Centre, the Nunavut Trust Advisory Committee and the Canadian Jewish Congress (Quebec). He was appointed Chair of the Board of Governors of McGill University in 1999.

The Canadian Broadcasting Corporation is the country’s largest cultural institution. It operates two national television networks, four national radio networks, specialty television services, various Internet sites and an international shortwave radio service. The CBC is the only cultural institution and the only broadcaster offering services to all Canadians in English and in French across Canada, and in eight Aboriginal languages across the North.

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