Calgary MP Hehr on ‘leave’ over sex-harassment claim
Liberal resigns cabinet post, says he respects probe into time as MLA
Kent Hehr resigned from the federal cabinet Thursday after he was accused of making inappropriate sexual remarks, a stunning fall from grace for the first Liberal cabinet minister from Calgary in a half-century.
The allegations against the Calgary Centre MP, which stem from his time as an Alberta M LA a decade ago, were first levelled against Hehr on social media late Wednesday. By Thursday afternoon, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau had accepted the sport and disabilities minister’s resignation pending the outcome of an independent investigation.
In a statement, Hehr did not directly address the allegations against him but said he welcomed and respected the inquiry.
“I have always tried to conduct myself with respect towards others, and I understand the most important thing is how each individual feels,” he said.
“Harassment is never acceptable and everyone deserves to have their voice heard.”
In a statement, Trudeau said: “Canadians have a right to live and work in environments free from harassment.
“As a government, we take any allegations of misconduct extremely seriously and we believe that it is important to support women who come forward with allegations, and that is exactly what our government will do.”
Lawyer Christine Thomlinson has been engaged to conduct an independent investigation for the government.
Trudeau characterized Hehr’s resignation as a “leave of absence” and said, in the meantime, his duties will be performed by Science Minister Kirsty Duncan.
In 2015, Hehr and Calgary Skyview MP Darshan Kang — both former MLAs — became the first Liberal MPs elected in Calgary since 1968 as the Trudeau government swept to power.
But both men have since been accused of misconduct. Kang resigned from the Liberal caucus last August to sit as an Independent after accusations emerged he had sexually harassed an employee in his federal constituency office, as well as a former constituency assistant during his time as an MLA.
In Hehr’s case, Alberta government employee Kristin Raworth made the allegations Wednesday in a series of postings on Twitter.
The former employee at the Alberta legislature said when she started her job, she was warned against being alone with Hehr but ended up in elevators with him because they worked in the same building.
“My very first experience with him was in an elevator when he called me yummy,” she told The Canadian Press.
“And at the time I was 25 years old. I was very naive about that and I didn’t know how to react, I didn’t know how to respond when someone is saying this to you.”
Raworth said subsequent encounters included similar remarks or efforts to brush up against her. Upon talking with female colleagues, she realized others had experienced similar things.
A female former employee of the provincial Liberal caucus, who spoke on condition of anonymity, told Postmedia she had never been harassed by Hehr or warned about the MLA’s conduct.
But she said the allegations this week did not come as a complete surprise to her.
“He was very blunt and crude about a lot of things. That’s just kind of the way he talks,” she said.
Hehr was appointed as veterans affairs minister after the 2015 election but was shuffled out of that role last year. Following the move, he came under fire for alleged insensitive remarks when dealing with stakeholders and constituents, including accusations he insulted thalidomide survivors.
While Hehr said he intends to stay on as MP, he will face a massive political challenge.
Mount Royal University professor Lori Williams said the allegations against Hehr and Kang will likely have broader repercussions for the federal Liberals locally.
“Liberals are a hard sell in Calgary, generally speaking,” Williams said.
“The door opened a little bit with the new government in Ottawa and with these very well-established politicians, and now, bizarrely, both of them are having their reputations called into question.”
“Failing some sort of miracle, I just can’t see them winning or retaining those seats in the next election, or the Liberals retaining those seats.”
Hehr’s downfall is just the latest in the midst of the international #MeToo movement aimed at shining a light on predatory conduct toward women.
His resignation followed the departures of Ontario Progressive Conservative Leader Patrick Brown and Nova Scotia PC Leader Jamie Baillie over misconduct allegations.
In a statement posted on Facebook on Thursday evening, Raworth thanked her family, colleagues and friends for their support, while adding “politics needs to change” to accommodate more women.
She said Hehr’s resignation “can’t be the end of the conversation,” and the political arena should be a place “where everybody can contribute their best without fear or harm.”
Premier Rachel Notley, who was first elected provincially the same year as Hehr, said society is finally confronting the reality of harassment that many face on a daily basis.
“Governments at all levels have a duty to lead: with better resources and supports to protect victims, laws that create healthier workplaces, and safe avenues for people to speak out,” Notley said in a statement.
“Enough already. We can change. Let’s change together.”