Latest news with #TravisDhanraj
Edmonton Journal
3 days ago
- Politics
- Edmonton Journal
Conservatives call for investigation into CBC after journalist resigns over 'performative diversity, tokenism'
This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. MP Rachel Thomas said in a letter that Travis Dhanraj's claims have 'reignited concerns about the organization's workplace culture' Travis Dhanraj reporting for the CBC in St. John's, N.L., in 2023. Photo by Joe Gibbons/Postmedia/File The Conservative party is calling for a parliamentary committee to investigate the CBC after journalist Travis Dhanraj resigned over the public broadcaster's alleged 'performative diversity, tokenism, a system designed to elevate certain voices and diminish others.' THIS CONTENT IS RESERVED FOR SUBSCRIBERS ONLY Subscribe now to read the latest news in your city and across Canada. Exclusive articles by David Staples, Keith Gerein and others, Oilers news from Cult of Hockey, Ask EJ Anything features, the Noon News Roundup and Under the Dome newsletters. Unlimited online access to Edmonton Journal and 15 news sites with one account. Edmonton Journal ePaper, an electronic replica of the print edition to view on any device, share and comment on. Daily puzzles, including the New York Times Crossword. Support local journalism. SUBSCRIBE TO UNLOCK MORE ARTICLES Subscribe now to read the latest news in your city and across Canada. Exclusive articles by David Staples, Keith Gerein and others, Oilers news from Cult of Hockey, Ask EJ Anything features, the Noon News Roundup and Under the Dome newsletters. Unlimited online access to Edmonton Journal and 15 news sites with one account. Edmonton Journal ePaper, an electronic replica of the print edition to view on any device, share and comment on. Daily puzzles, including the New York Times Crossword. Support local journalism. REGISTER / SIGN IN TO UNLOCK MORE ARTICLES Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience. Access articles from across Canada with one account. Share your thoughts and join the conversation in the comments. Enjoy additional articles per month. Get email updates from your favourite authors. THIS ARTICLE IS FREE TO READ REGISTER TO UNLOCK. Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience. Access articles from across Canada with one account Share your thoughts and join the conversation in the comments Enjoy additional articles per month Get email updates from your favourite authors Dhanraj was the host of Canada Tonight: With Travis Dhanraj on CBC. But he resigned on Monday, involuntarily, he says, because the CBC 'has made it impossible for me to continue my work with integrity.' 'I have been systematically sidelined, retaliated against, and denied the editorial access and institutional support necessary to fulfill my public service role,' he wrote in his resignation letter. 'I stayed as long as I could, but CBC leadership left me with no reasonable path forward.' Get the latest headlines, breaking news and columns. By signing up you consent to receive the above newsletter from Postmedia Network Inc. Please try again On Wednesday, Rachel Thomas, an Alberta Conservative member of Parliament, wrote a letter to the chair of the House of Commons standing committee on Canadian heritage, saying that Dhanraj's claims have 'reignited concerns about the organization's workplace culture.' The letter calls on the chair, Ontario Liberal MP Lisa Hepfner, to recall the committee. 'It is critical that we hear testimony from Mr. Dhanraj, CBC executives and Minister of Canadian Identity and Culture, Steven Guilbeault,' the letter states. CBC has denied Dhanraj's allegations. 'CBC categorically rejects the accusations made about CBC News, our staff and management,' Kerry Kelly, a CBC spokesperson, said in an email. On Wednesday, National Post reported that Dhanraj is still considered an employee by CBC, although he is on leave. 'CBC is refusing to accept his resignation,' Kathryn Marshall, Dhanraj's lawyer, told National Post, in an emailed statement. 'This refusal is indicative of their abusive work culture. However, to be clear, Travis has resigned, albeit involuntarily. We intend to commence a human rights lawsuit.' Marshall alleged earlier this week that Dhanraj had been discouraged from booking 'Conservative voices' on his show. Dhanraj had been on leave last July but returned to full-time hours last December. At that point, Marshall said, he was pressured to sign a non-disclosure agreement regarding a tweet he posted in April 2024 about former CBC president Catherine Tait declining an interview request for his show. This advertisement has not loaded yet. This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. 'Within basically the first week of his return he was immediately retaliated against by CBC for not signing the NDA,' Marshall said. 'He was, at that point, permanently removed as the host of Canada Tonight, and his salary got slashed, and it was evident at that point that he had no future or career at the CBC.' In his resignation letter, Dhanraj said the experience at CBC has 'taken a real toll — on my health, my career, and my trust in an institution I once believed I could help reform from within.' 'But the greater harm is to the public: a broadcaster that no longer lives up to its mandate, a culture that resists accountability, and a system that punishes those who dare to challenge it.' Our website is the place for the latest breaking news, exclusive scoops, longreads and provocative commentary. Please bookmark and sign up for our daily newsletter, Posted, here.
National Post
3 days ago
- Politics
- National Post
Conservatives call for investigation into CBC after journalist resigns over 'performative diversity, tokenism'
Article content The Conservative party is calling for a parliamentary committee to investigate the CBC after journalist Travis Dhanraj resigned over the public broadcaster's alleged 'performative diversity, tokenism, a system designed to elevate certain voices and diminish others.' Article content Article content Article content Dhanraj was the host of Canada Tonight: With Travis Dhanraj on CBC. But he resigned on Monday, involuntarily, he says, because the CBC 'has made it impossible for me to continue my work with integrity.' Article content Article content 'I have been systematically sidelined, retaliated against, and denied the editorial access and institutional support necessary to fulfill my public service role,' he wrote in his resignation letter. 'I stayed as long as I could, but CBC leadership left me with no reasonable path forward.' Article content Article content Article content On Wednesday, Rachel Thomas, an Alberta Conservative member of Parliament, wrote a letter to the chair of the House of Commons standing committee on Canadian heritage, saying that Dhanraj's claims have 'reignited concerns about the organization's workplace culture.' Article content Article content The letter calls on the chair, Ontario Liberal MP Lisa Hepfner, to recall the committee. Article content Article content 'It is critical that we hear testimony from Mr. Dhanraj, CBC executives and Minister of Canadian Identity and Culture, Steven Guilbeault,' the letter states. Article content Article content Article content On Wednesday, National Post reported that Dhanraj is still considered an employee by CBC, although he is on leave. Article content Article content 'CBC is refusing to accept his resignation,' Kathryn Marshall, Dhanraj's lawyer, told National Post, in an emailed statement. 'This refusal is indicative of their abusive work culture. However, to be clear, Travis has resigned, albeit involuntarily. We intend to commence a human rights lawsuit.' Article content Article content Marshall alleged earlier this week that Dhanraj had been discouraged from booking 'Conservative voices' on his show. Article content Article content Dhanraj had been on leave last July but returned to full-time hours last December. At that point, Marshall said, he was pressured to sign a non-disclosure agreement regarding a tweet he posted in April 2024 about former CBC president Catherine Tait declining an interview request for his show. Article content Article content 'Within basically the first week of his return he was immediately retaliated against by CBC for not signing the NDA,' Marshall said. 'He was, at that point, permanently removed as the host of Canada Tonight, and his salary got slashed, and it was evident at that point that he had no future or career at the CBC.' Article content Article content In his resignation letter, Dhanraj said the experience at CBC has 'taken a real toll — on my health, my career, and my trust in an institution I once believed I could help reform from within.' Article content Article content 'But the greater harm is to the public: a broadcaster that no longer lives up to its mandate, a culture that resists accountability, and a system that punishes those who dare to challenge it.' Article content
National Post
3 days ago
- Politics
- National Post
CBC's woke, anti-conservative bias blows up in its face
Article content Was journalist Travis Dhanraj too 'bold' for the CBC? On Monday, Dhanraj's released a scathing resignation letter accusing CBC's leadership of failing to achieve journalistic balance and engaging in tokenism. Article content Article content His lawyer, Kathryn Marshall, claims CBC did not want him booking ' conservative voices ' on his show, confirming sentiments many Canadians have long suspected about the mostly taxpayer-funded public broadcaster. Article content Dhanraj's ability to attract high-profile conservative guests set him apart, but CBC's internal politics and ideological bias — which is evident in its leadership and coverage — likely stifle any chance of reform, argues political strategist Anthony Koch, in an interview with the National Post's Terry Newman.
Vancouver Sun
3 days ago
- Politics
- Vancouver Sun
Travis Dhanraj is 'still an employee although he is currently on leave,' CBC says
Despite journalist Travis Dhanraj's very public resignation from CBC, the national broadcaster says that he is an employee. He is 'still an employee although he is currently on leave,' said CBC's head of public affairs Chuck Thompson to National Post via email on Wednesday morning. Dhanraj's lawyer Kathryn Marshall told National Post that 'CBC is refusing to accept his resignation.' 'This refusal is indicative of their abusive work culture However, to be clear, Travis has resigned, albeit involuntarily. We intend to commence a human rights lawsuit,' she said in an emailed statement. Start your day with a roundup of B.C.-focused news and opinion. By signing up you consent to receive the above newsletter from Postmedia Network Inc. A welcome email is on its way. If you don't see it, please check your junk folder. The next issue of Sunrise will soon be in your inbox. Please try again Interested in more newsletters? Browse here. In a letter to CBC leadership on Monday, Dhanraj said he felt that he had to step down because CBC made it impossible for him to continue his work with integrity. He called out the broadcaster for its 'performative diversity, tokenism, a system designed to elevate certain voices and diminish others.' He said he was denied access to 'key newsmakers,' and described an atmosphere where barriers were in place for some, while others were empowered. 'When I questioned these imbalances, I was met with silence, resistance, and eventually, retaliation. I was fighting for balance and accused of being on a 'crusade,'' he wrote. CBC has denied Dhanraj's allegations. The broadcaster 'categorically rejects' the claims, CBC spokesperson Kerry Kelly said in an emailed statement to National Post on Monday. In February, CBC confirmed to publication Broadcast Dialogue that Dhanraj was 'on a leave,' as speculation swirled online after the time slot of the television show he hosted, Canada Tonight, was replaced with another show. On Monday, Dhanraj shared a note with his followers on social media. Click here to read a note directly from me: 'The dream that turned into a nightmare,' he wrote. He said his resignation was not just about him. It was about CBC being 'a public institution' that is 'supposed to serve' Canadians. 'It's about voices being sidelined, hard truths avoided, and the public being left in the dark about what's really happening inside their national broadcaster,' he wrote. 'I have no doubt there will be efforts to discredit me — to paint me as bitter or disgruntled. That's what happens when you challenge power.' Dhanraj's journalism career spans 20 years. He was a reporter for CBC News in Edmonton and Toronto before continuing on to CP24, Global News and CTV News. In 2021, he returned to CBC as a senior parliamentary reporter. He eventually ended up as the host for CBC's Marketplace and Canada Tonight. Our website is the place for the latest breaking news, exclusive scoops, longreads and provocative commentary. Please bookmark and sign up for our daily newsletter, Posted, here .
Edmonton Journal
3 days ago
- Politics
- Edmonton Journal
Travis Dhanraj is 'still an employee although he is currently on leave,' CBC says
Article content Despite journalist Travis Dhanraj's very public resignation from CBC, the national broadcaster says that he is an employee. Article content He is 'still an employee although he is currently on leave,' said CBC's head of public affairs Chuck Thompson to National Post via email on Wednesday morning. Article content Article content Dhanraj's lawyer Kathryn Marshall told National Post that 'CBC is refusing to accept his resignation.' Article content Article content 'This refusal is indicative of their abusive work culture However, to be clear, Travis has resigned, albeit involuntarily. We intend to commence a human rights lawsuit,' she said in an emailed statement. Article content Article content In a letter to CBC leadership on Monday, Dhanraj said he felt that he had to step down because CBC made it impossible for him to continue his work with integrity. He called out the broadcaster for its 'performative diversity, tokenism, a system designed to elevate certain voices and diminish others.' Article content He said he was denied access to 'key newsmakers,' and described an atmosphere where barriers were in place for some, while others were empowered. 'When I questioned these imbalances, I was met with silence, resistance, and eventually, retaliation. I was fighting for balance and accused of being on a 'crusade,'' he wrote. Article content CBC has denied Dhanraj's allegations. Article content The broadcaster 'categorically rejects' the claims, CBC spokesperson Kerry Kelly said in an emailed statement to National Post on Monday. In February, CBC confirmed to publication Broadcast Dialogue that Dhanraj was 'on a leave,' as speculation swirled online after the time slot of the television show he hosted, Canada Tonight, was replaced with another show. Article content Article content Click here to read a note directly from me: — Travis Dhanraj (@Travisdhanraj) July 7, 2025 Article content 'The dream that turned into a nightmare,' he wrote. Article content Article content He said his resignation was not just about him. It was about CBC being 'a public institution' that is 'supposed to serve' Canadians. Article content 'It's about voices being sidelined, hard truths avoided, and the public being left in the dark about what's really happening inside their national broadcaster,' he wrote. 'I have no doubt there will be efforts to discredit me — to paint me as bitter or disgruntled. That's what happens when you challenge power.' Article content Dhanraj's journalism career spans 20 years. Article content
