‘I Was Forced to Resign’: Former Host Accuses CBC

In a shocking revelation, former CBC News host Travis Dhanraj accused the public broadcaster of forcing him to resign after he raised concerns about a lack of editorial independence and suppression of expression within the newsroom—an allegation that CBC has denied.

Dhanraj confirmed his intention to sue and file a human rights complaint.

In a resignation email sent to CBC staff, Dhanraj wrote: “This was not a voluntary decision. When I pushed for honest conversations about systemic issues and editorial imbalance, I was shut out. Sidelined. Silenced. And ultimately, erased.”

He accused the network of “tokenism” disguised as diversity and claimed that power within the newsroom was concentrated in the hands of a small group of senior journalists, particularly in Ottawa. He described a workplace culture plagued by discrimination, retaliation, and psychological harm.

Dhanraj’s resignation comes amid growing criticism of CBC for allegedly restricting journalists from speaking openly, especially regarding the coverage of Gaza. In May, over 35 CBC journalists signed an open letter demanding greater editorial freedom and highlighting internal censorship of Palestinian voices and perspectives. The letter noted that a chilling effect discouraged honest reporting and stifled dissent. Several journalists have resigned in protest since the escalation of violence in Gaza.

Those who have left include longtime producers and correspondents who claimed their reporting was restricted and heavily edited at times. This controversy has raised increasing concerns about the integrity and transparency of the public broadcaster.

Dhanraj’s attorney, Kathryn Marshall, stated that he was not allowed to book guests who presented diverse political viewpoints on his show, *Canada Tonight*. She claimed that those in positions of power preferred a narrow circle of decision-makers while silencing critical voices.

This controversy arises as Prime Minister Mark Carney’s government has pledged an additional $150 million in annual funding to CBC this year, reaffirming its support for the broadcaster despite growing calls from Conservative factions to defund it.

Born in Alberta, Dhanraj has over 20 years of experience in journalism. Before returning to CBC in 2021, he worked at CP24, Global, and CTV. Earlier this year, CBC dropped and replaced his show, and the reasons for its absence remained unexplained until now.