Manitoba government backbencher forced out after inappropriate remarks

WINNIPEG — A Manitoba government backbencher who made inappropriate comments to at least one female staff member has been ousted from the Progressive Conservative caucus.

Cliff Graydon, who was first elected in 2007, will sit as an Independent.

The Progressive Conservative caucus met Monday morning to decide his fate.

Graydon has acknowledged making comments to one staff member, and he announced last week that he is going on medical leave and will not seek re-election.

Media reports earlier this month quoted unnamed sources as saying Graydon invited two women on separate occasions to sit on his lap, and invited another to lick food off his face.

The Tory caucus says in a statement the expulsion was in response to repeated inappropriate behaviour.

“While we do not take this decision lightly, it has become apparent that previous attempts with Mr. Graydon to address a pattern of inappropriate behaviour have not succeeded,” said the statement issued Monday.

“We have acted fairly, swiftly and respectfully in dealing with this difficult matter while ensuring all policies and procedures were followed and that the privacy and confidentiality of all parties involved were respected.”

Graydon, in his early 70s, has represented the Emerson constituency near the United States border since 2007.

He faced controversy last winter when he used social media to call asylum-seekers who had been crossing the border “a drain on society.” He also retweeted other people’s posts that called Prime Minister Justin Trudeau a traitor, a scumbag and a disgrace.

Graydon apologized, deleted the tweets and agreed to step back from social media and undergo sensitivity training, the details of which were never made public.