Ghomeshi scared the CBC
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TORONTOFailure.
That one word sums up CBC management’s years of inaction regarding the abusive behaviour of their self-created “star” Jian Ghomeshi, former host of Q.
Failure to act.
Failure to protect.
Failure to question.
Failure to supervise.
The failure of anyone to grow a pair in the behemoth public broadcaster and cut Ghomeshi down to size.
These conclusions can be drawn from employment lawyers Janice Rubin’s and Parisa Nikfarjam’s much anticipated report last week on what happened behind the scenes at the CBC during Ghomeshi’s reign, abetted by too many CBC managers.
They note: “Based on the evidence available to us in this process, we have concluded that:
1. “There was behaviour and conduct on the part of Mr. Ghomeshi that was contrary to the Behavioural Standard established by the CBC. Most prevalent was behaviour that was disrespectful, including behaviour that is considered to create an intimidating, humiliating, hostile or offensive work environment. Less prevalent, but also present in a small number of cases, was behaviour that constituted sexual harassment.
2. “Management knew or ought to have known of this behaviour and conduct and failed to take steps required of it in accordance with its own policies to ensure that the workplace was free from disrespectful and abusive conduct. It is our conclusion that CBC management condoned this behaviour.”
The report is an interesting page turner and recap of much that we already know.
That said, there is so much that has been redacted, that the public doesn’t get the entire picture and for that reason, the report fails to address some basic questions in this scandal.
Unfortunately, the lawyers were not given a broader mandate to address issues of sexual harassment and misconduct at the CBC in general, beyond Ghomeshi.
Jesse Brown of Canadalandshow.com — who with the Toronto Star’s Kevin Donovan broke the story last October — said larger questions remain unanswered.
“Who knew what? When? What did they do? What didn’t they do?” Brown asked.
He added: “I do know the report doesn’t investigate a possible cover-up attempt by management, which Ghomeshi alleged took place. He says they offered to let him walk away quietly and tell the public it was his decision. Did they? Would the CBC have ever told the public what they knew about him, had we not reported it?”
Brown put those questions to CBC President Hubert Lacroix and Executive Vice-President Heather Conway during a media conference call to address the report. He said he didn’t get a response.
One of Canada’s top employment lawyers, Howard Levitt, shares some of the cynicism about this report.
Levitt noted it minimized the issue of sexual harassment.
“They don’t talk about Lucy DeCoutere, who alleges Ghomeshi physically attacked her, they don’t talk about Kathryn Borel the former CBC producer (to whom Ghomeshi is alleged to have said) ‘I want to hate f**k you’.”
Levitt also questioned why Chris Boyce (radio executive) and Todd Spencer (human resources) are the only two who have been fired.
“What about the lower management, why aren’t they being disciplined?”
These are all legitimate questions.
What does seem clear is that under the not-so-watchful eye of the public broadcaster, Ghomeshi was allowed to create an environment of harassment and intimidation with no fear of reprimand.
Rubin and Nikfarjam concluded there was no one who consistently managed Ghomeshi on a day to day basis.
When the fallen radio star was giving his underlings inappropriate shoulder rubs — described as “creepy” by some of the 99 witnesses spoken to — why did no one in authority tell him to keep his hands to himself?
One is led to the conclusion that even senior CBC managers were scared of managing him — and by extension the CBC’s top brass, who made him into a star.
They did address the issue that he was chronically late for work — which in hindsight doesn’t seem particularly consequential.
If anything, the report proves we need more answers.
Perhaps it should be through a judicial inquiry, as Levitt suggested, with a judge given the power to subpoena people and evidence and put witnesses under oath, so we can learn just how deep the rot is at the CBC in order to bring forward major recommendations for change.
As for Ghomeshi, his next day in court on the criminal charges he faces of sexual assault, is on April 28.
