CBC head of radio Chris Boyce, a central figure in the Jian Ghomeshi story, and one other executive were put on a leave of absence Monday.
A memo sent to CBC staff Monday afternoon said Chris Boyce and Todd Spencer, executive director, human resources and industrial relations for English services “will be on a leave of absence effective today until further notice.”
CBC spokesman Chuck Thompson told Torstar the “indefinite” leaves were a “management decision.” He would not say whether the leave was paid or unpaid or why the decision was made now, citing privacy reasons.
Boyce told the Star in an email that he had “nothing to add.” Spencer did not immediately return requests for comment.
“As I’m sure you all can appreciate, the past couple of months have been difficult for many people,” reads the memo from the CBC’s executive vice-president of English services, Heather Conway, and Roula Zaarour, vice-president, people and culture.
“We cannot ignore the likelihood that this decision will provoke another round of media attention and speculation. I believe it’s especially important that we remain supportive of all our workplace colleagues where they may need it and resolute in our professionalism and dedication to the important work that we do here on behalf of Canadians.”
Boyce was one of two CBC executives who said they viewed evidence at Ghomeshi’s lawyers’ offices on Oct. 23 that Ghomeshi had caused physical injury to a woman. Ghomeshi was fired three days later.
Ghomeshi is charged with four counts of sexual assault and one count of overcome resistance — choking. His lawyer said he intends to plead not guilty. His next court date is Thursday.
Boyce told the CBC’s the fifth estate in November that the CBC had conducted an internal investigation over the summer into Ghomeshi with regards to allegations of inappropriate behaviour in the workplace, but said they came up empty.
He said the investigation included speaking with staff members at Ghomeshi’s former hit radio show, Q, but the staffers who were there at the time told the fifth estate they had not been spoken to. When confronted with this information, Boyce said he was leaving it up to Janice Rubin, the employment lawyer who is conducting an ongoing workplace investigation at the CBC in the wake of the Ghomeshi allegations.
Source:: Metro News
