Will he stay or will he go? With just days left to go until his five-year contract runs out, the future of CBC president Robert Rabinovitch remains unclear – with, on one side, a torrent of reports and rumors suggesting that his term is about to be extended into 2006 but, on the other, no official word coming from the Ceeb or Ottawa.

Rabinovitch’s tenure is set to expire on Nov. 15, but according to stories in both the Toronto Star and Le Journal de Montreal, a tentative deal has been struck for a two-year extension.

‘His reappointment is more likely than anything else,’ predicts Ian Morrison of the lobby group Friends of Canadian Broadcasting.

The president of CBC is appointed by the prime minister, usually on a recommendation from the Department of Canadian Heritage. Morrison believes that, although the feds are most likely wary of making what seems to be another patronage appointment, a short extension is an appealing option because of Rabinovitch’s generally solid record.

‘Love him or hate him, he’s no disaster,’ says Morrison.

An extension would also reinforce the position of Richard Stursberg, the net’s newly hired and controversial head of English TV, he adds, noting that CBC vice-presidents are often fired after changes in the presidency.

FCB and others have been critical of the appointment process, noting that the Ceeb’s board of directors is stacked with friends of the Liberal Party. Rabinovitch himself was deputy minister of communications under Pierre Trudeau.

Arthur Lewis of the group Our Public Airwaves says Rabinovitch should be re-upped, but only as a prelude to reforming the Ceeb board. Eight of the 12 board members are nearing the end of their terms. ‘In effect he’s responsible to the PM. How accountable can he be [to the board] if they don’t hire and fire him?’ Lewis asks.

-www.cbc.ca