Horwath won’t yet turf Miller, Taylor
NDP leader waiting for investigation into bullying allegations
NDP Leader Andrew Horwath says she is concerned about human rights complaints made by staffers against two Hamilton MPPs — but she won’t boot anyone from caucus before the allegations are investigated.
“I’m not going to presuppose any outcomes,” the Hamilton Centre MPP said Thursday, noting the workers who made the complaints are unionized and already pursuing grievances under the collective agreement. All three complaints are expected to be put on hold until the union grievances are resolved or abandoned.
“I’m going to let those processes unfold ... and then I’ll understand a path forward.”
Constituency worker Todd White, also the chair of the local public school board, has filed a complaint alleging bullying and discrimination by Hamilton East-Stoney Creek MPP Paul Miller. Miller noted to the Spectator on Wednesday the allegations come as an election looms, but also stated he looks forward to resolving the complaints via “due process” and believes in “fostering a safe and supportive workplace.”
The application follows human rights complaints filed against Hamilton Mountain MPP Monique Taylor by two staffers on medical leave — Sandra Troulinos and Alissa Watt. Those complaints also alleged bullying — and in particular, that the MPP pressured one worker to falsely accuse the other of sexual harassment because she gives hugs. In a statement, Taylor said the party has offered an independent probe into the concerns.
Horwath said any allegation against MPPs related to harassment or discrimination is “absolutely” a concern for her. She added the party has been working to improve its training and policies in recognition of the growing social and political awareness of the #MeToo movement around sexual harassment.
For example, the NDP leader said MPPs and party managers have been taking part in “anti-harassment and anti-racism training” over the course of the last year, and an independent consultant was brought in to review party policies and procedures in early 2018.
Political staffers of all party stripes are increasingly going public with complaints of harassment — and when those allegations involve sexual misconduct, the politicians involved are often suspended or turfed from caucus. PC Leader Doug Ford — whose predecessor resigned over unproven sexual misconduct allegations — kicked Kitchener-area MPP Michael Harris out of caucus Monday after allegations involving sexual texts with a former intern. .
The complaints against the NDP politicians are primarily focused on allegations of discrimination over family status as well as workplace bullying. But Troulinos and Watt also describe being made to feel “uncomfortable” by Taylor allegedly making “explicit” sexual comments around them. Horwath said she believes the local complaints are being handled through the right process. “We have a grievance procedure and collective agreements for a reason; it’s so workers can have access to remedy if they’re unhappy with something that may have happened in the workplace.”