High Quality Content by WIKIPEDIA articles! Israel Harold "Izzy" Asper, OC, OM, QC (August 11, 1932 – October 7, 2003), Canadian tax lawyer and media magnate, was the founder of the now defunct CanWest Global Communications Corp and father to its former CEO and President Leonard Asper, former director and corporate secretary Gail Asper, as well as Executive Vice President David Asper. He was also the leader of the Manitoba Liberal Party from 1970 to 1975.