Former CBC News Network host Travis Dhanraj has filed a complaint with the Canadian Human Rights Commission in Ottawa.CBC
Former CBC News Network host Travis Dhanraj, who earlier this summer denounced “dysfunction at the highest level” at the CBC in an all-staff e-mail that went viral, has filed a human rights complaint against the Crown corporation alleging discrimination on the basis of race, colour and disability.
On Thursday, Mr. Dhanraj expanded upon his earlier allegations that were widely seen on social media about “the erosion of editorial independence” and “tokenism masquerading as diversity” at the national public broadcaster in a seven-page document that his legal team submitted to the Canadian Human Rights Commission in Ottawa.
The complaint reiterates Mr. Dhanraj’s contention that his departure from Canada Tonight was precipitated in part by him posting on X that it was “unfortunate” that then CBC president Catherine Tait had declined an interview for the show − and includes new allegations that he was subject to bullying and harassment by on-air CBC personalities Rosemary Barton and David Cochrane.
Kathryn Marshall, the lawyer who is representing Mr. Dhanraj and who shared a copy of his complaint with The Globe and Mail, says her client’s human rights complaint is primarily motivated by a desire to see change at the CBC.
“It’s not that he’s bitter, and it’s not a personal vendetta, and it’s not for the money, it’s because he truly wants to see the CBC improve,” she said.
“He wants it to be what he always thought it would be – which is a supportive, great work environment where you could really debate issues, you could tell the news, and you could have great discussions about issues that Canadians care about.”
CBC spokesperson Kerry Kelly says that the Crown corporation was sent a copy of Mr. Dhanraj’s complaint on Thursday morning, but it has not yet received independent confirmation from the CHRC that a complaint has been filed.
“At this time, we can only reiterate in the strongest terms possible that CBC rejects his version of events,” she wrote.
“We are dismayed by these attacks on our hosts and newsroom leaders. We will vigorously defend against false claims, including allegations of political bias in guest selection.”
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Mr. Dhanraj, whose 20-year career in broadcast journalism began at the CBC before stints at CP24, CTV News and Global News, was rehired by the national public broadcaster in 2021.
He served as a senior parliamentary reporter and co-hosted Marketplace before taking over Canada Tonight in January, 2024.
The bulk of Mr. Dhanraj’s complaint revolves around his brief time hosting that nightly news program – where, according to the document, he had an annual base salary of $92,945.36 supplemented by additional remuneration of $43,000, an annual overtime buyout of $10,000 and a $10,000 wardrobe allowance.
According to the narrative submitted to the CHRC, Mr. Dhanraj agreed to host Canada Tonight under the impression that he would be in charge of its editorial direction – and pushed for “diversity (particularly related to political voices on the show) and racial equality.”
“However, Mr. Dhanraj was consistently met with resistance at every point, and a toxic work environment in which harassment, bullying, and retaliation went unchecked – leading to his constructive dismissal,” his complaint alleges.
Mr. Dhanraj alleges that his attempts to book conservative guests were resisted internally. He alleges, for instance, that after having the Deputy Leader of the Conservative Party, Melissa Lantsman, on his show, he was threatened with discipline that included being pulled off the air.
By Feb. 20, according to his human-rights complaint, Mr. Dhanraj had requested CBC conduct a diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) investigation after coming to believe he had been selected as host of Canada Tonight “because the CBC expected him to be the “‘token’ brown man” – but no such investigation took place and management told him to “work within the system”
Mr. Dhanraj’s allegations that these experiences amount to discrimination hinge in part on a narrative that his nightly show was at the bottom of a hierarchy at CBC.
“The CBC constantly gave leading speakers and guests to shows on CBC News Network that had liberal, white hosts namely [Power & Politics host] David Cochrane and [chief political correspondent] Rosemary Barton,” his complaint alleges.
“These hosts received resources and opportunities that Mr. Dhanraj, the only brown prime time host on CBC News Network with a solo show representing multiple minority identities, was denied.”
Mr. Dhanraj’s allegations of “harassment and bullying” involving Mr. Cochrane and Ms. Barton include disputes that began over who booked a guest first.
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When asked for comment, Mr. Cochrane replied he had nothing to add to the CBC’s response. Ms. Barton did not respond to a similar inquiry by deadline.
Mr. Dhanraj’s human-rights complaint based on disability is related to how the CBC management dealt with Mr. Dhanraj during his medical leaves after mental health issues he says arose because of the workplace environment – and how these leaves were discussed in the newsroom.
Mr. Dhanraj and the CBC are in disagreement about his exact employment status right now.
Mr. Dhanraj said he was “forced to resign” in his all-staff e-mail from July. Ms. Marshall says that her client’s continued employment had been made untenable because of a demotion, attempts to get him to sign a non-disclosure agreement and a poisoned workplace. “We are asserting that he’s been constructively dismissed,” she said.
The CBC, however, says that Mr. Dhanraj remains a unionized employee who is on leave.
In his CHRC complaint, Mr. Dhanraj writes that he is seeking damages for past and future wage loss as well as pain and suffering.
He is also seeking orders from the CHRC that the CBC undergo a comprehensive investigation and review of its DEI and workplace harassment policies and implement a whistle-blower policy.
