Former CBC anchor says the broadcaster ‘silenced and intimidated’ him

OTTAWA — Former CBC television reporter and anchor Travis Dhanraj told a House of Commons committee Tuesday that the public broadcaster “silenced and intimidated” him.

When Dhanraj, who hosted “Canada Tonight,” announced his departure in an email to CBC staff in 2025, he called out what he claimed was a culture of “retaliation, exclusion and psychological harm” at the broadcaster.

Later that year, he filed a human rights complaint against the Crown corporation alleging discrimination on the basis of race, colour and disability, which is ongoing.

Appearing Tuesday before a House of Commons heritage committee studying the state of the journalism and media sectors in Canada, Dhanraj said the CBC created a “toxic culture where intimidation went unchecked.”

He said that while he was publicly held up as a “bold, diverse host,” the CBC’s stated commitment to diversity “contrasted with realities of tokenism.”

Chuck Thompson, the public broadcaster’s head of public affairs, said in a statement that Dhanraj made “numerous misleading statements, mischaracterizations and/or false allegations about his time at CBC.”

“We have replied to the bulk of these claims in a robust and detailed response filed with the Human Rights Commission, which is the proper venue for these complaints,” he said. “While we are limited in what we can say due to privacy and confidentiality considerations, CBC categorically rejects Mr. Dhanraj’s accusations about CBC News, our journalists and management.”

Thompson added that on-air journalists David Cochrane and Rosemary Barton “and our news leaders have CBC’s full and unwavering support.”

In a video posted to the YouTube page for his “Can’t Be Censored” podcast last week, Dhanraj said he planned to “name names, describe decisions and paint a better picture about what happened inside the CBC” for the committee.

On Tuesday, he spoke about several journalists and members of CBC’s management.

Dhanraj said Power & Politics, hosted by Cochrane, was given “gatekeeping authority” over which politicians could appear on Canada Tonight.

“When I questioned that control and who was in control, I was viewed as disruptive,” he said.

He also said Barton “circulated internal communications” questioning his program after he interviewed former Speaker Greg Fergus about Black History Month.

Dhanraj was on the witness list along with several other media officials, who spoke about a variety of industry issues like artificial intelligence and a lack of resources for local reporting. Others spoke about the CBC and its place in the Canadian media landscape.

Friends of Canadian Media executive director Raj Shoan said in his opening remarks that “a healthy media system is essential to a healthy democracy.”

“The state of journalism in Canada is poor and in most communities, it is deteriorating further,” Shoan said, noting that local news outlets have closed and newsrooms have diminished.

“This is not simply an industry transition. It’s a democratic deficit.”

Speaking about his time at CBC, Dhanraj said Tuesday that there were people who decided who was allowed on programs, including his.

He also said there were “repeated episodes of Conservatives being blocked.”

“I basically wasn’t allowed to pick up the phone and talk to Conservatives,” he said, responding to a question about being prevented from interviewing Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre.

“Folks have accused me of coming here being a cheerleader for the Conservatives. I am not a cheerleader for the Conservatives, I’m sorry. I’m not a cheerleader for the Liberals either. I was trying to do my job as a journalist, and part of that is being balanced.”

Dhanraj said he thinks there needs to be a management “overhaul” at CBC.

“Until there’s a recognition of the problem from management, nothing will happen,” he said. “Good people are leaving, they’re being forced out and their concerns are being dismissed because it’s about protecting reputation.”

This report by The Canadian Press was first published March 10, 2026.

Catherine Morrison, The Canadian Press