Investigation clears NDP MP of harassment allegations Former soldier’s accusations against Moore ‘not supported by evidence,’ probe finds
NDP Leader Jagmeet Singh speaks about the internal investigation that exonerated MP Moore.
OTTAWA — NDP MP Christine Moore has been cleared of harassment and abuse of authority allegations by an independent investigation, after she was accused of misbehaviour by an Afghanistan war veteran.
Speaking to reporters in her Quebec riding of Abitibi—Témiscamingue, Moore welcomed the findings and said she was not surprised by the investigator’s conclusion, which NDP Leader Jagmeet Singh made public earlier in the day.
“I knew the truth from the beginning,” Moore said. “I knew they couldn’t find anything because nothing happened. It was a totally consensual relationship.”
Moore was suspended from her parliamentary duties on May 8 pending an investigation into claims made by retired army corporal Glen Kirkland. The 34-year-old former soldier told media outlets that Moore inappropriately pursued him romantically after he testified at the House of Commons defence committee in June 2013 about his combat experience and post-traumatic stress disorder.
The NDP hired Ottawa-based human resources consultant Deborah Jelly to investigate Kirkland’s claims and Jelly concluded in a report to the party that the former soldier’s allegations were unfounded, Singh said Thursday. The party leader said Kirkland declined to participate in the investigation, which involved testimony from Moore and other witnesses as well as the review of documentary evidence.
Moore will now resume her duties as the NDP’s critic for rural affairs, economic development in Quebec and “as a powerful advocate for women in politics,” Singh said.
“The investigation has concluded that the allegations against Mme. Moore were not supported by the evidence, that there was no misconduct amounting to either harassment or sexual harassment, and that she did not abuse her position of authority.”
Kirkland responded Thursday by saying that while he did ultimately decline to participate, he initially wanted to take part in Jelly’s investigation. But Kirkland said that when he contacted Jelly, he was told that an interview was not necessary because he had given his ac- count of what happened to the media. Kirkland said he lost faith in the process and did not have further contact with Jelly.
“I was kind of taken aback and then I realized this isn’t an independent investigation,” he said.
Singh’s chief of staff, Willy Blomme, defended the process that cleared Moore of alleged misbehaviour.
“The investigator informed us that Mr. Kirkland declined to participate, but that she could proceed with a thorough investigation based on the detailed allegations he made in the media,” Blomme said in a written statement.
“Deborah Jelly is an experienced and respected investigator and we have full confidence in her and in the fairness of this process.”
Kirkland, who is now a realtor in Brandon, Man., told the Star in May that Moore invited him to her office after his committee testimony in 2013.
He said she gave him alcohol and later “followed” him to his hotel. He said he felt a “big power imbalance” because she was an MP and he was an army corporal.
He also accused Moore of repeatedly contacting him over a number of weeks until she showed up uninvited at his home in Brandon.
Kirkland first made his allegations shortly after another NDP MP, Saskatchewan’s Erin Weir, was booted from caucus after an investigation into Weir’s behaviour found that one claim of harassment and three claims of sexual harassment against him were “sustained.”
Kirkland said at the time that he felt “sick” about Weir’s situation because it was Moore who originally floated accusations about his behaviour in an email to the NDP caucus in February. Moore told The Canadian Press in May that Kirkland’s allegations amounted to “a total lie.” She said they had a consensual relationship and they discussed long-term plans together.
She also disputed his account of what happened after his 2013 committee appearance, stating she was voting in the House late that night and that Kirkland invited her to his hotel room, where they had a consensual sexual encounter.
“I was kind of taken aback, and then I realized this isn’t an independent investigation.”
GLEN KIRKLAND EX-SOLDIER