That's an interesting, if speculative, question.
Certainly my colleagues and I have already expressed that concern, as have others. Mr. Gooch touched on that when he talked about confusion around roles. Obviously the board chair plays a key role in ensuring proper operation of the board, but also in fulfilling its mission, which is to ensure good governance of the organization. The chair also sets the tone for trust among board members, and of course board members need to trust the chair implicitly.
Even if an individual is not ill-intentioned, people may sometimes question their intentions. They may wonder if that person is really serving the interests of the board and the organization or if they are more concerned about keeping their job and staying in the minister's good graces. That may not be the case at all, but you know what perceptions can do. Sometimes perceptions can poison the atmosphere, and then you have a dysfunctional board.
I can't really offer a fulsome answer to your question, which I think is a bit speculative, but I think it's risky enough to be avoided. Plus, let's not forget that the minister appoints almost all of the board members anyway. The minister also reappoints them. I think the least we can do is let them choose their own chair so we have functional boards.