Tory MPP kicked out of caucus over sexual harassment allegations

TORONTO — A Progressive Conservative legislator has been removed from caucus and disqualified from running for reelection under the Tory banner after facing sexual harassment allegations from a former intern.

In a statement issued Monday, the Tories said the decision to oust Michael Harris followed evidence the party received on Friday that included a written complaint from a former intern dating back to 2013. The party said they also obtained a series of text messages “of a sexual nature” between the intern and Harris, which included a request for her to send him photos, an invitation for her to meet with him late at night and a reference to something that may have taken place in his office at Queen’s Park.

The statement said Harris was asked about the issue and only denied that a formal complaint was ever made. Progressive Conservative Leader Doug Ford declined to comment on the allegations but caucus chair Lisa Thompson said he had been briefed on the issue and had taken “immediate action.”

“We take allegations very very seriously, zero tolerance — anything less than zero tolerance is unacceptable,” Thompson said.

Harris could not immediately be reached for comment Monday, but said over the weekend he had chosen not to run in the spring election for medical reasons. Harris, 38, is a married father of four who was first elected to the provincial legislature in 2011. His wife Sarah told the Waterloo Record that she was considering running in his place in the June election. The Tories said their nominations committee reviewed the evidence and unanimously decided to bar Harris from seeking re-election in his riding of Kitchener-Conestoga. They said the party also decided to remove him from caucus.