Employees Warned to Participate in Internal CBC Ghomeshi Investigation

This article was last updated on April 16, 2022

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The union representing CBC employees, Canadian Media Guild, has warned its members that co-operating with an internal investigation of the Jian Ghomeshi affair might be risky for them since the information they provide could be used against them.

According to a memo issued to its members on Monday, the Canadian Media Guild stated that while it is “strongly supportive of an independent investigation into this issue.” It highlighted that concerned employees participating in the workplace investigation led by lawyer Janice Rubin might not be able to protect themselves. President of the guild’s CBC branch, Marc-Philippe Laurin, mentioned that “CBC has told us that Ms. Rubin will be recording her interviews. However, participants will not be allowed to make their own recordings, obtain a copy of Ms. Rubin’s recordings or a transcript of the interview until the investigation is completed and findings made.”

In addition to that, Mr. Laurin pointed out that the union has been “informed Ms. Rubin’s recordings may however be provided to CBC management and relied on by management to discipline the employee being interviewed. CMG has been unable to receive assurances against self-incrimination, and cautions that the contents of these interviews could be used as the basis for disciplining the person making the statements.” The memo alleged that “while we believe firmly that evidence of wrongdoing should be investigated and necessary measures taken as required, no employee should be put in a position of exposing themselves to discipline based on information they themselves have provided.”