The CBC is responding after former host Travis Dhanraj told Conservative leader Pierre Poilievre that he was not allowed to request an interview with him while working for the public broadcaster.
Dhanraj invited the leader onto a recent episode of his “Can’t Be Censored” podcast, which he hosts with former CP24 host Karman Wong.
The podcast was launched months after Dhanraj sent internal memos to employees saying he was forced to leave the network where he hosted “Canada Tonight” after questioning “systemic issues and editorial imbalance at CBC,” according to The Star.
CBC confirmed to Now Toronto that Dhanraj “sent internal notes making serious accusations,” but said the allegations aren’t true.
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During his chat with Poilievre, the conversation turned to Dhanraj’s relationship with the CBC, and as a result, Dhanraj told Poillievre that he was not allowed to interview him on-air.
“I was told to keep quiet, not rock the boat, I was not even able to request an interview with you,” Dhanraj said. “I wanted to have you on my show, I was not able to do that.”
The CBC is now responding to these claims. In an email statement to Now Toronto, a spokesperson said the broadcaster “flatly rejects” Dhanraj’s version of events.
“Including his false claim he was threatened to be pulled off the air because he had invited on Conservative guests (many of whom have appeared on our programs since, as we regularly invite representatives of all major political parties to appear on CBC News),” the statement said.
The statement adds the issue was not “guest selection,” but rather Dhanraj’s “repeated failure” to collaborate or share timely information with his colleagues.
The CBC says those concerns were discussed with Dhanraj by his managers on “multiple occasions.”
“As Canada’s national public broadcaster, we work hard every single day to showcase a wide variety of perspectives and voices, no matter the topic. We stand by his former teams, our journalists and our leaders,” the statement said.
Now Toronto reached out to Dhanraj for a comment and is waiting for a response.
Last month, Dhanraj filed a human rights complaint against the public broadcaster.
The complaint includes allegations that Dhanraj was subject to bullying and harassment by CBC colleagues.
The complaint also reiterates Dhanraj’s claims that his departure was sparked by an April 2024 post on X where he said it was “unfortunate” the former CBC President Catherine Tait declined an interview on his show.
