Liberal MHAS quiet about harassment allegations
Speculation that troll account @Wackjobnl could have ties to politicians
Placentia West-bellvue MHA Mark Browne and Burin-grand Bank MHA Carol Anne Haley both appeared to be taking important phone calls as they blew past a mob of reporters in Confederation Building on Tuesday.
Both entered the lobby of Confederation Building with their phones to their ears, their heads down as they made their way to the entrance to the legislature — though neither appeared to be saying any words into their phones.
Neither even looked at the group of reporters asking questions of passing MHAS, looking for reaction to a bevy of stories that came to light on Tuesday.
Browne and Haley weren’t the only government members not answering questions on Tuesday.
Liberal MHAS Chris Mitchelmore, Neil King, Jerry Dean, Brian Warr, Scott Reid and Graham Letto all either said “no comment” as they passed or didn’t respond at all to requests for reaction as more allegations of harassment came forth on Tuesday.
Those who did speak had a mixed reaction to the news of the day.
Harbour Main MHA Betty Parsley said the allegations against Eddie Joyce that came to light last week came as a complete surprise to her.
“I’ve had no issues. It’s difficult. All our hearts beat, men and women. It’s our colleagues that we work with since we all got elected. Each one of us is like a family in here. It’s difficult. When it came to light that morning, it was the first I heard of it,” Parsley said.
Stephenville-port au Port MHA John Finn also says he has no knowledge of the substance of any complaints filed by MHAS against former Liberal cabinet ministers Dale Kirby and Eddie Joyce.
“I certainly have great respect for an individual that wants to come forward with a complaint. I certainly respect their right to do so. It’s certainly nothing that I’m aware of,” Finn said.
“I respect the process. I understand there’s an investigation that will be launched. Until the results of that investigation is released, I don’t really have much further to comment.”
Health Minister John Haggie, who took the stairs, not the elevators, said he was looking forward to sensitivity training being offered by the Human Resources Secretariat on Friday.
Haggie says he can’t get into any conversations that take place around the cabinet table.
“Have I been bullied? Not really. No, I wouldn’t say I have. It’s very difficult when people are passionate and they come to you with energy and enthusiasm for their cause and you maybe have to say no to them, it’s difficult sometimes to separate the emotion form that. People can be very forceful,” Haggie said.
“I have no knowledge of any of the details of any of these. As far as I’m aware there is a process which is independent which is going to look at them. I look forward to reading it very soon, hopefully.”
The remaining Liberal caucus members were not available for comment on Tuesday.
Terra Nova MHA Colin Holloway and Harbour Grace-port de Grave MHA Pam Parsons have jointly filed a complaint to the Royal Newfoundland Constabulary regarding anonymous Twitter troll account @Wackjobnl. Holloway and Parsons — both Liberal MHAS — were at RNC Headquarters on Tuesday to file the complaint, which they say the RNC has accepted, and an investigation has begun, according to Holloway.
Holloway says over the weekend, tweets from the account spoke about himself and Parsons “leaking like a Bay Roberts sewer.”
More than that, Holloway says the tweets came off as threatening to himself and Parsons, which prompted the complaint to be filed with police.
There is some speculation about whether or not the account has ties to any current or former MHAS.
“We’re trying to figure out
how close this person is to us and if there’s any real concern,” said Holloway.
Parsons says the pattern of tweets from the account is disturbing.
“If you look back, it’s very specifically targeted at certain politicians. First of all, it targets the NDP — a lot of hate tweets against the NDP. Also, hate has gone out about Paul Davis and the PCS,” Parsons said.
“So, it’s someone who seems
to know or have followed closely politicians and the like.”
Neither Parsons nor Holloway speculated about who is behind the account.
Holloway says he has received two death threats since taking office. He says he discussed the threats with the RCMP.
Holloway and Parsons also filed formal complaints with Premier Dwight Ball and Commissioner of Legislative Standards
Bruce Chaulk against former Liberal cabinet ministers Eddie Joyce and Dale Kirby on Monday.
Holloway didn’t say the exact nature of the complaints, only that they are similar to those previously filed against the two — harassment, but not sexual or physical in nature.
Holloway also filed formal complaints with Chaulk against Opposition Leader Paul Davis and Gerry Rogers, alleging they spread false information to the media on Monday.
While the exact nature of the complaints against Davis and Rogers is different than those against Joyce and Kirby, when the complaints came forth against Joyce and Kirby, they faced immediate consequences.
Progressive Conservative Leader Ches Crosbie says he sees no basis for suspending or ousting Davis from the PC caucus.
“I just don’t see the substance of the objection here or the complaint. I’m not getting it. So, if the commissioner decides that there’s substance to the complaint, we’ll cross that bridge when we come to it. It’s lost on me at the moment,” Crosbie said.
Gerry Rogers said she had not seen the complaint in question, so reserved judgment on whether it would be best for her to recuse herself from the House.
“I do not know what the complaint has been. I was asked whether I received a letter. I said yes, I did. Then I was asked about the contents of that letter. I said to media, very clearly, that it would be best for the media to speak to the Town of Port Blandford,” Rogers said.
“I believe that Mr. Holloway is probably experiencing a lot of distress right now. I don’t know what he has accused me of. I’m willing to speak to him or to speak to whoever needs to speak to me about that issue.”