Tories update vetting in wake of Dykstra
The Conservatives are now ready to ask potential candidates specifically whether they have ever been accused of inappropriate sexual behaviour.
Cory Hann, a spokesman for the party, says the questionnaire that anyone seeking to join a nomination contest must complete was updated Jan. 31.
That was the same day Conservative Leader Andrew Scheer promised an independent, third-party investigation into how party brass handled allegations of sexual misconduct against former Conservative MP Rick Dykstra.
Last week, a report in Maclean’s magazine said allegations involving Dykstra and a Parliament Hill staffer were brought to the attention of the 2015 Conservative campaign team, but seemingly resulted in no action being taken against the longtime Ontario MP.
Two of the most powerful figures in the party at the time — former prime minister Stephen Harper and his then chief of staff, Ray Novak — have now acknowledged publicly they were aware of the allegations. Both said last Friday they allowed Dykstra to remain on the ballot because no criminal charges were laid.
Dykstra, who has denied the allegations, ultimately lost his 2015 re-election bid and went
on to become president of the Ontario Progressive Conservatives, a position he resigned shortly before Maclean’s published its report.
Patrick Brown, another former Conservative MP, is also facing allegations of sexual misconduct. He denied them before resigning as leader of the Ontario Progressive Conservatives last month.
Mike Coates, who is challenging the nomination of longtime Conservative MP Cheryl Gallant in her eastern Ontario riding, said the vetting process he went through last year did not involve a question about sexual misconduct, but he would welcome one.
“Why the hell not?’’ Coates said.
“You want to make sure that all of your candidates are above reproach in whatever concern you might have, whether it’s sexual relations with your employees or of financial conduct with your company,’’ he said. “I think all of those questions are now fair ball.’’
Coates said even if the question did not come up during the application process, he is now getting it as he campaigns to take on Gallant.
“Do you have anything in your background that we need to know about?’’ is one of the questions Coates said a voter asked Sunday.