The publication of former CBC head Robert Rabinovitch’s expenses thrusts a long overdue spotlight on the pubcaster’s top executives, says a broadcasting watchdog.

Between 2004 and 2007, Rabinovitch spent more than $340,000 on work-related expenses, including $200,000 for air travel and $140,000 for meals, hotel rooms and other transport, say documents obtained under the Access to Information Act and published in Montreal’s French-language daily La Presse Tuesday.

‘This is very healthy,’ Ian Morrison of Friends of Canadian Broadcasting told Playback Daily. ‘This will not escape the notice of the Auditor General.’

Although highly critical of Rabinovitch’s tenure, Morrison is quick to point out that, ‘there is no hint to suggest that he was intentionally wasting taxpayers’ money.’

La Presse also reported that Rabinovitch spent $4,000 on a four-night stay in a luxury hotel in South Africa and the same amount for five nights at Istanbul’s Palace Hotel. He also ate frequent meals in some of Montreal’s most expensive restaurants.

CBC spokesman William Chambers says Rabinovitch stayed in the luxury hotels to attend Museum of Radio and Television meetings. ‘The most senior players in the broadcasting industry around the world were there,’ says Chambers. ‘We didn’t make the arrangements. The organizers book the rooms for all the participants.’

Although Rabinovitch has a chauffeur, he also spent an additional $15,000 on limousine services from 2005 to 2007. Chambers says the cars were hired to go to and from airports.

While Chambers says he doesn’t have a copy of the documents submitted by the CBC to La Presse, he’s confident the pubcaster’s internal procedures — which he says include an annual internal audit of the president’s expenses — ensure that no one in upper management is spending more than they should.

‘He’s the CEO of a $1.7-billion corporation. He’s expected to travel and be present and not just stay in Ottawa in an ivory tower. He’s supposed to be meeting stakeholders across the country,’ says Chambers.

Chambers admits to feeling frustrated by the headlines generated by Rabinovitch’s expenses. ‘Anyone who has worked closely with him knows he’s not an extravagant guy.’

The CBC only became subject to the Access to Information Act in September. By December, the pubcaster reported that it had received more than 500 requests.

Since CBC executives are paid by taxpayers, Morrison believes they should publish their expenses online. ‘There should be disclosure on a quarterly basis. A CEO of any other company would be more accountable.’

___________________________

Note: CBC responds that it has posted the quarterly expenses of its top execs at www.cbc.radio-canada.ca since 2004.