EXCLUSIVE: Leaked audio of CBC disciplinary meeting with former TV host Travis Dhanraj

A leaked audio recording of an internal CBC disciplinary meeting for a national news anchor reveals the public broadcaster’s tension over its policies on journalistic standards and freedom clashing with protecting its corporate image.

Travis Dhanraj, once the host of a CBC television news show called Canada Tonight with Travis Dhanraj, resigned earlier this month with fiery letters accusing the CBC of “tokenism masquerading as diversity, problematic political coverage protocols, and the erosion of editorial independence.”

His letters, one to CBC leadership and another to CBC colleagues, were made public and created controversy, including over perceived political imbalance in news coverage at the publicly funded broadcaster. Last week, Conservative Members of Parliament called for a public hearing into Dhanraj’s “damning allegations” on workplace culture and biased reporting.

CBC has denied Dhanraj’s criticisms made in his letters.

More than a year before his still reverberating resignation, however, a disciplinary meeting for Dhanraj was convened by CBC shortly after he made a social media post on April 19, 2024. His post on X said: “At a time when the public broadcaster is under increasing scrutiny and when transparency is needed.” CBC’s president Catherine Tait had been asked to appear on his show. “We wanted to discuss new budget funding, what it means for jobs & the corporation’s strategic priorities ahead. Our request was declined. This is unfortunate.”

At a time when the public broadcaster is under increasing scrutiny and when transparency is needed, #CanadaTonight requested an intvu w/ @PresidentCBCRC Catherine Tait. We wanted to discuss new budget funding, what it means for jobs & the corporation’s strategic priorities ahead.…

— Travis Dhanraj (@Travisdhanraj) April 19, 2024

The disciplinary meeting preceded his removal from on-air duties for the CBC News Network show that bore his name.

Dhanraj declined to comment on the recording or the meeting, referring questions to his lawyer, Kathryn Marshall. Marshall confirmed the recording National Post has is an authentic portion of a longer disciplinary meeting between Dhanraj and CBC officials.

CBC did not dispute the disciplinary meeting or recording.

The CBC manager speaking in the recording is identified as Andree Lau, senior director of digital publishing and streaming. Lau’s LinkedIn page describes her job as overseeing the strategic and editorial direction of CBC News Network as well as other CBC news properties.

In the recording she appears to equate a CBC journalist reporting something critical about the CBC with a potential breach of journalistic conflict of interest ethics, on the grounds that a CBC journalist has a personal stake in the broadcaster’s success.

The recording excerpt begins with Dhanraj explaining the circumstances of his post about Tait.

“The new budget funding was publicly put out in the budget on Tuesday. It was widely reported on, by not only CBC but other broadcasters. There is nothing in the tweet that is insider information,” Dhanraj says.

Lau replies: “With exception of a unionized employee criticizing their employer; that is an employee who has a personal stake in the matter whose job is part of it…. The issue is, you know, does this post meet the standards of integrity, does it meet the conflict of interest under code of conduct.”

Dhanraj says: “I firmly stand by the fact that it does.”

Asks Lau: “Do you understand the concern with this post as it relates to the principle of integrity?”

Dhanraj: “No, I really don’t. I don’t, and again, Andree, I find it problematic that we are in a meeting where we are discussing something that is in the interests of the corporation. So, I, I’m not seeing the separation right now between the journalism and the interest of the corporation. I see how it would be in the interest of the corporation for this tweet not to be out, but I don’t see how, journalistically, it’s not sound…”

An unidentified union representative then asks for context on how the appearance request to Tait came about. “I didn’t watch the show that night,” he says.

“We had an editorial discussion,” Dhanraj says, “as to whether or not now was the correct time, since there was a development, a significant development with the release of the federal budget and the new money, to put a request in for Catherine Tait. We had been discussing putting a request in for some time and we thought there was a news hook to it because of the new development….”

Lau: “… What is your understanding of the protocol and considerations when CBC journalists are covering the CBC?”

“It, it’s the J.S.P. statement again,” Dhanraj says, likely referencing CBC’s Journalistic Standards and Practices.

“Clear editorial separation,” Lau says.

Dhanraj: “So those who have the interest of the corporation should not be influencing reporters.”

Lau: “Yes.”

Dhanraj: “And if that is happening, well, that kind of goes against some core fundamentals of the public broadcaster.”

Lau then says there are other aspects of the JSP involved. In a sentence in which some words are unclear on the recording, she says “the principle of integrity and the perception of who has a stake in the matter,” finishing with “perceived impartiality because, as I mentioned, you are an employee, and you are criticizing your employer.”

The Post does not have a recording of the entire meeting.

Chuck Thompson, CBC’s head of public affairs, said the meeting was about more than just Dhanraj’s social media post, for which Dhanraj was “never formally disciplined for.”

“The discussions in April with Mr. Dhanraj were about a range of issues outside the tweet; there was a particular emphasis on CBC News policies about conflicts of interest, violations of journalistic standards and protocols on how we report on ourselves.

“Mr. Dhanraj violated these policies and was asked about them by his manager with his union representative present. He also secretly recorded the meeting after agreeing not to,” Thompson said.

Lau could not be reached for comment prior to publication. An email sent to her on Friday was returned with an automated out of office message; a detailed message to her cell phone was not responded to. A CBC official had said they would alert Lau to the Post’s request.

Marshall, Dhanraj’s lawyer, said what is heard in the recording is “disturbing.”

“It shows that Travis was intimidated for simply doing his job as a journalist. He was hauled into a meeting with human resources, his boss, and the union. The purpose of the meeting, I think, was to intimidate him, scare him and pressure him, making it clear to him that he’s not to do that, that he is not to post anything or say anything as a journalist that could be embarrassing to the public broadcaster,” Marshall said.

“This is deeply concerning. I think it demonstrates that CBC, in that moment, was far more interested in preserving its own reputation than allowing their journalists to do their jobs.”

“It shows that the CBC corporation has a disturbing level of control over their journalists and is involved in the types of stories that the journalists are covering or not covering. I think that speaks to significant concerns of bias and a lack of objectivity within the corporation.”

Thompson said late Friday that Dhanraj is still a CBC employee although currently on leave.

Marshall said CBC has still not accepted Dhanraj’s resignation despite him voicing his clear intent and, in fact, are still paying him.

“I want to be very clear: The CBC doesn’t get to hold him hostage. This is a free country. He’s allowed to resign.”

Marshall said Dhanraj is pressing a human rights lawsuit against CBC over his departure.

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