Ottawa to announce changes to CBC's mandate, appoint new CEO in the next four weeks: source

After a months-long review of CBC/Radio-Canada's mandate, Heritage Minister Pascale St-Onge is expected to announce changes meant to modernize the public broadcaster sometime over the next four weeks.

A senior government official told CBC News the government is in the final stages of drafting what could be major legislative and regulatory changes to better position the company for the future as it grapples with seismic developments in the news and broadcasting space.

The government official — who spoke on the condition they not be named because they are not authorized to speak publicly — said a new CEO is also expected to be named as the package of CBC reforms is announced. The term for the current CEO, Catherine Tait, is set to end in January.

The mandate changes are also expected to address long-term funding, but that component hasn't yet been finalized, the official said.

The government is weighing how best to fund the CBC while also giving it a new mandate that may demand more resources, the official said.

All of these changes are expected to be announced in October or in the first few days of November because St-Onge will be stepping back to take some parental leave, the official said.

The CBC's current mandate, crafted in 1991, is set out in law in the Broadcasting Act. It hasn't been updated since the advent of the internet.

In a statement, St-Onge said Canada needs «a strong public broadcaster that connects and informs us coast-to-coast-to-coast.»

«I am looking forward to soon announcing important steps that will help modernize CBC/Radio-Canada. This is what we committed to Canadians and what Canadians expect,» St-Onge said.

«Like the rest of the news and information sector, the public broadcaster is facing a significant