Scheer silent on Dykstra controversy

a provincial election looming this summer — helped to precipitate the current controversy.

Brown surfaced Tuesday on Twitter to thank those who continue to support him, and to again protest his innocence.

“I am immensely grateful for all the support expressed to my family and myself,” he tweeted. “#Metoo can be a tool to lift society and I applaud that effort. False allegations however undermine that good work.

“The truth will come out. Thank you to all.”

Scheer refused to say whether those involved in the 2015 incident remain welcome in the party.

“I’m not going to speculate, I’m not going to try and guess what may or may not be in that report,” he said.

“My job is to make sure that those types of mistakes can’t happen going forward.”

Conservative MP Michelle Rempel chastised those involved in the decision in the aftermath of the report last week, saying they should no longer hold any positions of influence.

She said Monday she stands by her statement and it did apply to anyone who was involved.

“I am satisfied at this point in time with the level of severity and the degree of seriousness that the leader of my party is placing on this issue,” she said.

Scheer is implementing a code of conduct for his MPs, as well as training.

The party is also requiring all candidates who want to run in 2019, including incumbent MPs, to say whether they have ever been accused of inappropriate sexual behaviour.

“This is not an issue that is being faced by just one party,” Scheer said.

“It crosses all party lines and I really do sense good faith between party leadership of all parties to deal with this in a way that is meaningful.”

Indeed, Liberal Fisheries Minister Dominic LeBlanc said as much Tuesday, suggesting that the Parliament Hill community is conscious of the need for permanent change and seized with making it happen.

“That consciousness is obviously much greater than it would have been 10 years ago — that’s a very positive thing,” LeBlanc said.

“Everyone, I think, has become much more aware in a positive way of the steps that have to be taken to ensure that you’re not standing idly by while something inappropriate happens.”