Hehr accuser hopes dialogue on harassment will continue
Kristin Raworth didn’t expect — or want — to topple a federal cabinet minister when she took to Twitter late Wednesday night to talk about sexual harassment at the Alberta legislature.
But within 24 hours, Kent Hehr, the Liberal MP for Calgary Centre and federal minister of sport and disabilities, had resigned from cabinet.
As that news broke Thursday afternoon, Raworth was speaking with Postmedia by telephone.
After a brief and startled silence, she said Hehr’s departure “cannot be the end of this conversation.”
For her, there’s a bigger issue at play — political staffers working in an environment where they don’t feel they can speak up against powerful MLAs.
And that, she said, needs to change.
Raworth’s allegations against Hehr stem from the politician’s time as MLA for Calgary-Buffalo a decade ago.
A self-confessed politics geek, she landed a job in 2008 as a legislative assistant for Progressive Conservative MLA Evan Berger.
On Wednesday night, she watched news of Ontario PC Leader Patrick Brown’s fall from grace following sexual misconduct allegations.
As Raworth talked with female friends who worked alongside her in Alberta politics, the subject of Hehr’s conduct repeatedly came up, she said. Raworth decided to go public. On Twitter, about her first day at work, she posted, “I was told to avoid being in an elevator with Kent Hehr. He would make comments. He would make you feel unsafe.”
Her thread went on to allege Hehr had once called her “yummy.”
Fallout from Raworth’s allegations was swift. By Thursday afternoon, Hehr was out of cabinet pending an investigation to be led by lawyer Christine Thomlinson.
In a statement Thursday, Hehr did not directly address the allegations but said he believes harassment is never acceptable and everyone deserves to have their voice heard.
“Throughout my career I have always tried to conduct myself with respect toward others and I understand the most important thing is how each individual feels,” he said.
“I have been informed that an investigation into these allegations has begun and I welcome and respect this process.”
Raworth said she would like to see a broad conversation about harassment in politics.
“We need to make politics a more inclusive place for women,” she said.