Gillian Findlay, co-host of the CBC’s Fifth Estate, has left the public broadcaster after more than 30 years, citing “inequitable treatment” from management.
In an email sent to her colleagues last week, Findlay wrote, “I am leaving the CBC because I have been unable to negotiate a remote work arrangement that is acceptable to me or in keeping with arrangements afforded peers.”
In a response to questions from Canadaland, Findlay confirmed that she and her partner bought a home in Nova Scotia last year. Canadaland is told by a source familiar with the matter that Findlay’s co-host, Bob McKeown, lives in Quebec.
“I regret this outcome, not least because this leaves The Fifth Estate – for the first time in its nearly 50 year history – without a permanent female host.”
For years, a male host @cbcfifth has had exactly the kind of work arrangement Gillian was denied. 3/5
— Talin Vartanian (@CitizenTalin) April 16, 2023
CBC’s head of public affairs, Chuck Thompson, provided this statement:
“We were sorry to lose Gillian when she chose to retire. She is an incredible journalist.CBC reviews all requests for telework and working from home. That said, as a publicly funded institution, we cannot continue to cover extra travel expenses when an employee chooses to move to another province and where travel to the main production center is required for their work.”
Findlay responded to Thompson’s statement, advising that it is “worth noting the use of the phrase ‘continue to cover’, I think.”
She also noted that “technically I did retire (as opposed to quit) because I had the years that allowed me to do it. It was not what I wanted.”
with files from Cherise Seucharan
