New Brunswick premier suspends Speaker amid allegations of harassment

FREDERICTON • The Speaker of the New Brunswick legislature has been suspended from the Liberal caucus pending an investigation into allegations of harassment.

Premier Brian Gallant announced the suspension Thursday during a hastily arranged teleconference call with reporters, saying the allegations against Chris Collins have been made by a former employee of the legislative assembly.

“It is crucial that we ensure that workplaces are safe and respectable for all people, in all situations,” he said.

“Any workplace harassment is unacceptable and government will take prompt and appropriate action in this situation and whenever such allegations are brought forward.”

As well, Gallant said his majority government will ask the legislative administration committee to suspend Collins from his position pending an independent, third-party investigation.

Gallant did not release details about the nature of the allegations.

Collins, 55, was first elected to the legislature in a 2007 byelection, after serving three years as a Moncton city councillor. He was briefly minister of local government under former Liberal premier Shawn Graham and was elected Speaker after the Liberals returned to power in September 2014 under Gallant.

The premier said when staff in his office learned of “personality conflicts” between the Speaker and the former employee, the employee was then moved to another job, but Gallant did not make it clear when that happened.

On Feb. 17, the premier’s office was told of potential allegations of harassment involving the Speaker, but the employee chose not to bring forward the allegations at