Ex-NDP MP faces groping allegation

OTTAWA— Former NDP MP Peter Stoffer is facing allegations of harassment from multiple women, with one former staffer saying “many, many people” witnessed incidents of harassment and failed to act.

Lauren Dobson-Hughes, a former New Democrat staffer, described two separate incidents of unwanted groping and kissing from Stoffer to the National Post. Two other women spoke to the newspaper confidentially, detailing inappropriate behaviour or lewd comments.

Dobson-Hughes said the first incident was reported to the office of then-NDP leader Jack Layton, but Stoffer was not reprimanded.

“Many, many people knew and witnessed harassment by this person. Female caucus members warned staff and each other about it” but no male MP or senior staff ever made a warning about another man, Dobson-Hughes wrote in a Twitter post late Thursday night.

Dobson-Hughes told the Post the second incident happened in a lobby next to the House of Commons.

When reached by the Star last week, Stoffer categorically denied harassing or assaulting anyone. The Star was not aware of specific allegations against Stoffer at the time, but was pursuing the issue of harassment on the Hill after allegations against politicians.

Stoffer has denied the specific allegations to the National Post, but could not be reached by the Star Thursday night.

“The reality is that if anyone is making accusations against me, either in terms of harassment or assault in any way shape or form, that is simply wrong,” Stoffer said last week.

“I can be accused of, say, some bad jokes. Maybe some sick humour, but in that regard (concerning harassment) no. I’ve never done anything of that nature in my past.”