Calgary MP Kang vows to defend his reputation

CALGARY Facing calls for his expulsion from the federal Liberal caucus, Calgary Skyview MP Darshan Kang declared Tuesday that he was innocent of allegations of sexual harassment.

In a statement issued Tuesday by his office, Kang said he has been put on medical leave from the stress caused since the allegations were made public.

“While I cannot comment directly on an open, ongoing investigation, I continue to proclaim my innocence and will defend my reputation at all costs,” said Kang.

The Hill Times reported earlier this month that Kang faced complaints over allegedly repeatedly harassing an unnamed employee in his Calgary constituency office. In a Toronto Star story Tuesday, the father of the alleged victim accused Kang of offering up to $100,000 to the woman for her not to come forward with the allegations.

The office of government whip Pablo Rodriguez said this week that when it became aware of the accusations, it referred the matter to the House of Commons’ chief human resources officer.

NDP MP Sheila Malcolmson said Tuesday that Prime Minister Justin Trudeau — who has advocated a zero tolerance approach to harassment allegations in the past — should immediately dismiss Kang from the caucus.

As an opposition leader in 2014, Trudeau suspended two Liberal MPs from caucus over allegations of sexual misconduct. They were later permanently booted from the caucus.

“His policy in the past has been extremely clear. When there’s an investigation underway, he removes a member of Parliament from his caucus, no questions asked,” said Malcolmson, the NDP’s critic for the status of women.

“For a prime minister who’s identified as a feminist ... for him to leave this hanging for all this time is out of step.”

In the past two days, Trudeau has faced questions about Kang’s status without indicating whether he will be suspended.

On Tuesday, Trudeau reiterated that Parliament has implemented processes to deal with harassment over the past two years.

“We are allowing that process to undergo in a responsible way. The whip’s office is very much engaged — as it must be — in this process. And we will allow this process to unfold as it should,” he said.