CBC viewers critical of broadcaster's 'bias' after Travis Dhanraj claims
· Toronto Sun
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Many CBC viewers “lost trust” with the broadcaster after former TV host Travis Dhanraj revealed he was told not to book Conservatives on his show, according to a report.
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Access to Information records obtained by Blacklock’s Reporter indicate the CBC received a deluge of criticisms from viewers.
“Finally the truth has come out,” one viewer emailed, according to the 142-page document. “Canadians have lost trust in the CBC.”
“You guys are awful,” wrote another. “Your bias is there for the world to see.”
Dhanraj, who was the host of Canada Tonight , testified March 10 before a House of Commons Standing Committee on Canadian Heritage that he was removed from the air shortly after posting a tweet in April 2024 that his show “requested an interview with then CBC president Catherine Tait, and the request was declined.”
Internal intimidation alleged
He raised serious concerns about the publicly funded network, alleging political bias, internal intimidation, and editorial gatekeeping.
“This is not about left or right,” he testified. “It’s not about one tweet or one career. It’s about systemic control, tokenism, selective enforcement and a toxic culture where intimidation went unchecked.”
Dhanraj’s revelations with the CBC didn’t sit well with many of the broadcaster’s viewers.
“Taking money from all Canadian taxpayers while only representing the Liberal point of view is a travesty,” wrote another critic. “The CBC has become Canada’s Pravda. I am saddened and disgusted.”
Dhanraj testified that he was not even allowed to contact Conservatives because Power & Politics , hosted by David Cochrane, was the show where those voices were usually heard.
Can’t even call Pierre Poilievre
“I wasn’t even allowed to pick up the phone and call to request Pierre Poilievre,” he testified. “Look at what happened when I had Melissa Lantsman on my show. I was threatened with being pulled off the air, and the CBC then said in a news statement that they didn’t threaten to do that. There were recordings of them trying to do this.”
Following Dhanraj’s testimony, Conservative MP Carol Anstey pointed out that Liberals didn’t ask him about his claims during the hearing.
“Regardless of political leanings, allegations about transparency, editorial independence, and workplace culture at a publicly funded broadcaster deserve serious scrutiny,” Anstey, who represents the Long Range Mountains riding in Newfoundland and Labrador, shared on Facebook .
“Canadians should expect accountability from institutions funded by taxpayers.”
One viewer complained that CBC was not covering Dhanraj’s testimony to the standing committee, calling its management cowards.
“How far can this go before you realize you have a problem?” the angry viewer wrote.
‘Grotesque Liberal bias’
Another viewer complained of “grotesque Liberal bias” and the broadcaster being “elitist scum” to the CBC’s ombudsman, which received a reply.
“I would request that in future you express yourself in a polite and respectful manner,” replied the ombudsman.
Brodie Fenlon, CBC editor in chief, said in an email that the CBC tried to “achieve balance over time,” but not in every show or story.
“We hear from people who perceive our bias as right wing and as left wing, as pro-Liberal and as pro-Conservative, as pro-Israeli and as pro-Palestinian, as pro and con issues of public interest from vaccine hesitancy to trans rights,” wrote Fenlon. “These perceptions of bias, whatever direction they take, are of great concern to me and to our editorial leadership.”