Ex-Liberal whip says no complaint about Hehr was ever brought to him
CALGARY A former Liberal MLA says he never heard any allegations of misconduct made against Calgary Centre Liberal MP Kent Hehr during his time as a provincial politician, but he supports the current investigation.
Hehr resigned from the federal cabinet Thursday, pending the results of an investigation over accusations he made inappropriate sexual comments to female staff in the legislative assembly when he was a Liberal MLA.
Harry Chase, Opposition whip between 2008 and 2011, said Friday he received no complaints about Hehr during that time, nor did he hear “even rumours” of inappropriate behaviour.
“So I was surprised to hear these allegations,” said Chase, who chose not to run again as MLA for Calgary-Varsity in 2012.
Nevertheless, Chase believes Hehr did the right thing by resigning
as federal minister of sport and persons with disabilities during an investigation.
“The process is the right way to handle the situation. Resigning allows for a hearing to take place, whatever the outcome,” he said.
Hehr, a quadriplegic who has used a wheelchair since being the victim of a random shooting in 1991, was the MLA for CalgaryBuffalo between 2008 and 2015. In the 2015 federal election, he and another Calgary MLA, Darshan Kang, became the first Liberal MPs elected in the city in four decades.
Kristin Raworth came forward this week, first on Twitter and then in media interviews, to raise concerns over Hehr’s actions a decade ago.
Raworth said she was warned when she started working for a PC MLA in the legislature in 2008 to
not be alone in an elevator with Hehr because he made inappropriate comments and made female workers feel unsafe.
She said the first time she met him he called her “yummy,” and he made similar remarks or tried to brush up against her in subsequent encounters.
Raworth, who is now an Alberta civil servant, said other female colleagues in the legislative assembly had similar experiences.
Some “creepy” MLAs routinely made comments to female staff and at times groped them, according to another former Tory ministerial aide who worked at the legislature during the same period as Raworth.
Female employees looked out for each other and made sure they didn’t get cornered by certain MLAs, said the woman, who spoke on condition of anonymity.
“There was so much that was known and you just knew who to avoid.”
The PMO has authorized a thirdparty inquiry by lawyer Christine Thomlinson into the allegations against Hehr.
Hehr — who declined an interview request Friday — did not address the allegations against him in his resignation statement, but said he always tried to treat others respectfully.
“I understand the most important thing is how each individual feels,” he said.
Kang, the MP for Calgary Skyview, quit cabinet last year amid accusations he sexually harassed an employee in his federal constituency office. Kang is subject to a House of Commons investigation.