NDP defends response to misconduct allegations against MLAs
The NDP says the allegations of sexual misconduct levied against two MLAs were investigated by two independent lawyers based in Edmonton and Toronto.
“The people caucus engaged with were Janice Rubin of Rubin Thomlinson in Toronto and Ayla Akgungor of Field Law in Edmonton,” said NDP spokesperson Cheryl Oates in a statement Friday. “Both issued reports and we followed through on all of their recommendations.”
In November, the premier’s office said two sitting NDP MLAs had been accused of sexual misconduct since 2015.
The complaints did not come from people in caucus, said Oates.
Neither case involved alleged criminal conduct and in both cases, the investigations concluded that the behaviour could be addressed through education and instruction, she said.
The behaviour took place outside the workplace in both cases.
The NDP hasn’t released the names of the two MLAs citing privacy concerns of the complainants.
Postmedia reporters asked numerous male MLAs about the allegations directly, but respondents either deferred to caucus spokespeople or denied they were involved.
The issue was raised again Friday at a news conference where NDP Leader Rachel Notley was asked by reporters about the allegations.
Notley again cited the privacy concerns of the complainants.
“This really actually matters. If in politics or public life, a complainant has to worry about whether they come forward that they will then become the centre of a very public ... conversation, then what will happen is they will not come forward,” she said.
“And then we will not have a system in place that will actually actively work to change the culture of inappropriate behaviour in the workplace, in the political setting.”
She also referenced the two investigations: “I urge you to talk to the two independent investigators who were part of it, who I believe would be able to tell you that we engaged in an appropriate response.”
Postmedia contacted both law firms Friday and they wouldn’t comment, citing confidentiality.