Israel Harold Asper (August 11, 1932 - October 7, 2003) was a Canadian tax lawyer, media magnate, and founder of Canwest Global Communications Corporation, a media company which owned the Global Television Network and several cable television channels, the National Post newspaper (which had a conservative editorial policy under Canwest ownership but has since turned to the Left under new ownership) and several other major local newspapers prior to Canwest ceasing operations in 2010. Asper was a libertarian on most social issues and advocated laissez-faire economy. He was also a fervent Zionist and supporter of Israel's right-wing Likud Party. Asper had often accused the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation of having a pro-"Palestinian" bias.