Liberals retain lawyer to probe claims against MPs

ST. JOHN’S, N.L. A month after he set off a political furor by suspending two MPs for alleged misconduct, federal Liberal Leader Justin Trudeau says the party has retained a lawyer to investigate the still murky claims.

He said Cynthia Petersen, a Toronto-based lawyer who has argued several landmark Charter and gay rights cases before the Supreme Court of Canada, will probe allegations against two MPs he removed from the Liberal caucus.

Trudeau refused to speculate on the outcome of the investigation, how long it will take, or whether any part of Petersen’s findings will be made public. “I look forward to receiving her advice,” Trudeau said Friday in St. John’s.

It was his first visit to the city since suspending Newfoundland MP Scott Andrews and Quebec MP Massimo Pacetti on Nov. 5, citing complaints of “serious personal misconduct.”

Trudeau did not elaborate on the unproven allegations at the time.

Trudeau said he hopes the two unidentified female NDP MPs who have made the allegations will cooperate with Petersen.

Trudeau said he would like to see a proposed independent process involving the Speaker of the House of Commons progress.

Still, any recommendations from that investigation “will not be determining someone’s eventual candidacy for the Liberal party or not, and that’s why we’ve needed to set up a process as well.”

Trudeau would not speculate when asked if he thought Petersen might report before the federal election next year.

Petersen declined to comment Friday.

Trudeau was i n St. John’s to speak to the city’s board of trade Friday after promoting his close friend and local candidate Seamus O’Regan the night before.

The Liberal leader said he understands if constituents in the nearby Avalon riding, represented by Andrews since 2008, are frustrated by the lack of detail and the limbo in which they’re left.

“They’re not alone in considering this to be a distressing and difficult situation.”

The allegations highlighted a glaring lack of any formal process to deal with harassment claims between MPs. A subcommittee of MPs was struck this week to develop such policies and procedures.