Harassment allegation

N.S. Tory leader resigns amid allegations of inappropriate behaviour

Nova Scotia Progressive Conservative Leader Jamie Baillie was forced to resign Wednesday after an investigation found he acted inappropriately and breached the legislature’s policy on workplace harassment.

Party president Tara Miller said the Tories launched an independent, third-party probe into Baillie Baillie’s behaviour after a sexual harassment claim was brought to the party’s attention late last month.

“As soon as we became aware of those allegations we took immediate steps to Miller address them,’’ she told reporters at Province House in Halifax. “The PC party of Nova Scotia does not and will not tolerate sexual harassment in the workplace.’’

Miller said she is only aware of one individual who has come forward with allegations, but she would not say whether the allegations result from one incident or multiple incidents over time.

“In order to respect the confidentiality and privacy of the individual involved, we’re not going to be sharing any more details than what we’ve already disclosed,’’ she said.

Miller said the decision to ask Baillie to step down was supported unanimously by the party caucus.

Although caucus members were provided with the “appropriate information’’ to make a decision, Miller said the investigator’s report has only been disclosed to legal council.

“We’re very confident that the individual we retained to do this report did a very thorough and careful analysis of the issue,’’ she said. “The report concluded there had been a breach of the harassment policy.’’

Miller said the scope of the party’s involvement in the harassment allegation has concluded.

A spokeswoman for the Halifax Regional Police said the force has not received a report or complaint against Baillie.

“In order to investigate a sexual assault allegation we would need a complainant, we would require somebody like an individual victim or victims,’’ said Const. Carol McIsaac. “It wouldn’t be our victim-centered approach to investigating this to go and seek out a victim.’’

Baillie surprised the legislature by announcing his resignation on Twitter, saying he wanted to focus on his family and was “resigning for personal reasons.’’

“It has been an honour and privilege to lead the PC party for the past seven years,’’ said Baillie, who became party leader in 2010 after the Tories were ousted from power.

“I am resigning for personal reasons,’’ he said. “My priority is my family and I ask that our privacy be respected.’’

The announcement came nearly three months after Baillie revealed plans to leave the helm of the official Opposition once a new leader was chosen.

Within hours of his tweet, the party issued a statement about the harassment claims, shedding light on why Baillie left so abruptly.

The party confirmed Wednesday that caucus chairwoman Karla MacFarlane would immediately become interim leader.