CBC 'refusing to accept Travis Dhanraj's resignation' over 'abusive work culture,' lawyer says

Despite journalist Travis Dhanraj’s very public resignation from CBC, the national broadcaster says that he is an employee.

He is “still an employee although he is currently on leave,” said CBC’s head of public affairs Chuck Thompson to National Post via email on Wednesday morning.

Dhanraj’s lawyer Kathryn Marshall told National Post that “CBC is refusing to accept his resignation.”

“This refusal is indicative of their abusive work culture. However, to be clear, Travis has resigned, albeit involuntarily. We intend to commence a human rights lawsuit,” she said in an emailed statement.

In a letter to CBC leadership on Monday, Dhanraj said he felt that he had to step down because CBC made it impossible for him to continue his work with integrity. He called out the broadcaster for its “performative diversity, tokenism, a system designed to elevate certain voices and diminish others.”

He said he was denied access to “key newsmakers,” and described an atmosphere where barriers were in place for some, while others were empowered. “When I questioned these imbalances, I was met with silence, resistance, and eventually, retaliation. I was fighting for balance and accused of being on a ‘crusade,'” he wrote.

CBC has denied Dhanraj’s allegations.

The broadcaster “categorically rejects” the claims, CBC spokesperson Kerry Kelly said in an emailed statement to National Post on Monday. In February, CBC confirmed to publication Broadcast Dialogue that Dhanraj was “on a leave,” as speculation swirled online after the time slot of the television show he hosted, Canada Tonight, was replaced with another show.

On Monday, Dhanraj shared a note with his followers on social media.

Click here to read a note directly from me:https://t.co/FYncgnOZ1E pic.twitter.com/OFaLi2OGkn

— Travis Dhanraj (@Travisdhanraj) July 7, 2025

“The dream that turned into a nightmare,” he wrote.

He said his resignation was not just about him. It was about CBC being “a public institution” that is “supposed to serve” Canadians.

“It’s about voices being sidelined, hard truths avoided, and the public being left in the dark about what’s really happening inside their national broadcaster,” he wrote. “I have no doubt there will be efforts to discredit me — to paint me as bitter or disgruntled. That’s what happens when you challenge power.”

Dhanraj’s journalism career spans 20 years.

He was a reporter for CBC News in Edmonton and Toronto before continuing on to CP24, Global News and CTV News. In 2021, he returned to CBC as a senior parliamentary reporter. He eventually ended up as the host for CBC’s Marketplace and Canada Tonight.

• Chris Selley: We'll thank Travis Dhanraj for 'pulling back the curtain' on CBC News
• CBC host resigns, saying he could not continue at public broadcaster 'with integrity'

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