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CBC exec. speaks about Jian Ghomeshi, ‘dysfunctional’ workplace culture

CBC Radio personality Jian Ghomeshi seen March 14, 2010. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darren Calabrese

A senior executive at the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation has publicly outlined the company’s handling of the Jian Ghomeshi scandal and says a 2010 complaint that the former radio star sexually harassed a coworker was “clearly mishandled.”

CBC executive vice-president Heather Conway spoke about Ghomeshi on Friday’s episode of “As It Happens.”

“We had a place in this otherwise decent environment that was clearly dysfunctional,” Conway said. “I have no reason to say that it wasn’t toxic.”

READ MORE: Timeline: Sex assault allegations arise after CBC fires Jian Ghomeshi

Conway said the CBC is now investigating allegations from a woman who worked at the CBC and claimed that Ghomeshi told her at work: “I want to hate f— you.”

Conway said managers at CBC made “some efforts” to intervene and improve the work environment at “Q” but failed to do so.

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“Obviously we have to do better,” she told As It Happens host Carol Off.

Toronto police are investigating Ghomeshi after three women came to them with abuse allegations.

Ghomeshi has said he was fired from the CBC over fears that details of his sex life would become public “as a result of a campaign of false allegations.”

He has also said that he engaged in rough sex, but that it was always consensual.

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