News anchor Travis Dhanraj says he was pushed out of CBC for highlighting systemic issues, editorial imbalance
In an internal note to fellow CBC staff sent out Monday morning, Dhanraj said he felt he had no choice but to leave the broadcaster after his questioning of some of the CBC's editorial decisions and the "gap between CBC's stated values and its internal reality" was met with resistance.
"When I pushed for honest conversations about systemic issues and editorial imbalance, I was shut out. Sidelined. Silenced. And ultimately, erased," Dhanraj wrote in the email sent to various CBC group email addresses from his CBC account.
He accused his employer of "tokenism masquerading as diversity, problematic political coverage protocols, and the erosion of editorial independence," and said he had to "navigate a workplace culture defined by retaliation, exclusion, and psychological harm."
CBC 'categorically rejects' allegations
In an emailed statement, CBC spokesperson Kerry Kelly said the Crown corporation "categorically rejects" Dhanraj's allegations about what led to his departure, including his claim that his decision to leave was not voluntary and that he was "forced to resign."
Kelly did not elaborate on Dhanraj's resignation or the reason he went on leave earlier this year; nor did she comment on his specific claims about editorial independence and newsroom culture at CBC.
"We are saddened to see this public attack on the integrity of CBC News," she said.
Dhanraj also posted a Google form on the social media site X earlier Monday in which he asked people to leave their contact information so he could keep them informed about the case.
"When the time is right, I'll pull the curtain back," he wrote. "I'll share everything…I'll tell you what is really happening inside the walls of your CBC."
The post was later removed.
When CBC News reached out to Dhanraj's Toronto-based lawyer, Kathryn Marshall, to ask if he intends to sue the broadcaster, she responded with a one-word answer: "Yes."
She also told the Toronto Star that Dhanraj plans to file a complaint with the Canadian Human Rights Commission.
Previously worked at CP24, CTV, Global
Born in Alberta, Dhanraj was a general assignment reporter for CBC Edmonton and CBC Toronto before leaving for positions at CP24, Global News and CTV News.
He returned to CBC in 2021 as a senior parliamentary reporter and later hosted Marketplace and Canada Tonight.
Speculation began swirling in February when Dhanraj was abruptly no longer appearing on air, and Canada Tonight was replaced by Ian Hanomansing's Hanomansing Tonight.
CBC confirmed at the time that Dhanraj was on leave but did not provide additional details. Dhanraj's lawyer said the leave was due to "ongoing systemic issues" at the broadcaster.
The first public sign of tension surfaced a few months earlier when Dhanraj posted on X in April 2024 that he had requested an interview with then CBC president Catherine Tait when new funding for the public broadcaster was announced in the federal budget.
According to a copy of his resignation letter published by the Toronto Sun, Dhanraj said CBC launched an investigation over that post and asked him to sign a non-disclosure agreement, which he said he refused to do.
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