Manitoba MLA gets boot for inappropriate talk

WINNIPEG— A Manitoba government backbencher who made inappropriate comments to female staff has been ousted from the Progressive Conservative caucus.

Caucus chair Wayne Ewasko said he and his colleagues made the decision Monday to expel Cliff Graydon after discussing what he called “repeated inappropriate behaviour.”

“While we do not take this decision lightly, it has become apparent that previous attempts with Mr. Graydon to address a pattern of inappropriate behaviour have not succeeded,” Ewasko said in a written statement.

“We have acted fairly, swiftly and respectfully in dealing with this difficult matter while ensuring all policies and procedures were followed and that the privacy and confidentiality of all parties involved were respected.”

Media reports earlier this month quoted unnamed sources as saying Graydon invited two women on separate occasions to sit on his lap, and invited another to lick food off his face.

Pallister said he wanted to respect the privacy of anyone who came forward, and hoped the dismissal sends a message.

“It sends the right signal, I think, about changing the culture around here.”

Graydon was not in the chamber Monday and did not respond to interview requests. In his early 70s, he has represented the Emerson constituency near the United States border since 2007.

He faced controversy last winter when he used social media to call asylum-seekers who had been crossing the border “a drain on society.” He also retweeted other people’s posts that called Prime Minister Justin Trudeau a traitor, a scumbag and a disgrace.