MP sued by former staffer over dismissal
New Democrat failed to address harassment in his office, suit claims
JOANNA SMITH AND ALEX BOUTILIER OTTAWA— An NDP MP is being accused of unfair treatment by a former staffer who says she was the target of harassment based on her gender.
Fabiola Ferro is seeking more than $180,000 in damages from her former employer, Châteauguay-Saint-Constant MP Sylvain Chicoine, alleging she was unfairly dismissed from her job.
In a statement of claim filed in Ontario courts Friday, Ferro’s lawyers allege she was the target of harassment from another of Chicoine’s employees, David Cimon, and that Chi- coine “demonstrated a sexist and misogynist attitude” toward Ferro.
“Twice Mr. Cimon mentioned to (Ferro) that she could complete certain tasks because she ‘had no children,’ ” the statement reads.
“On numerous occasions, (Ferro) tried to discuss the problem of harassment with Chicoine. He refused to take steps to correct the . . . situation, reprimanding her instead.”
The claims have not been tested in court. Alexander Duggan, Chicoine’s lawyer, said they will be vigorously contesting Ferro’s allegations.
In a brief statement, Chicoine said he treated Ferro’s allegations seriously because he believes “harassment has no place in a healthy work environment.” “According to the provisions of (the NDP’s union’s) collective agreement, Mrs. Ferro’s allegations were immediately subject to a formal investigation which found them to be baseless,” Chicoine’s statement read. “I am confident that the courts will reach the same conclusion.” In her statement, Ferro, 34, said she began working as a parliamentary assistant in Chicoine’s Ottawa office in September 2011. She alleges Cimon began harassing her several months into the job, including threats, bullying and giving her extra work outside of his authority. The statement claims Ferro had to take time off due to the harassment and, upon her return, was treated unfairly by Chicoine. In April 2013, Ferro filed an official complaint with the NDP’s union. “On April 9, 2013, Cimon filed his own complaint with the (union) committee. He alleged that (Ferro) was harassing him by intimidating him and was accusing him falsely,” the statement of claim reads. That same day, Chicoine fired her, holding her complaint in his hand, according to the statement. Ferro alleges Chicoine took no action against Cimon. According to Ferro’s lawyers, she was put on paid leave while the union committee investigated her complaints. On May 9, 2014, the committee rejected the complaints. Ferro also alleges the NDP offered her a different job with the Office of the Leader of the Opposition (OLO), rather than Chicoine’s office, in September 2014. Ferro’s statement said she was “dis- tressed” to find the job was an entrylevel data entry position with a 60day trial period. She alleges the offer amounted to wrongful dismissal.
The Star left a message with Chicoine’s office, requesting an interview with Cimon. That request was not returned as of Friday evening.
In Saskatoon, NDP Leader Thomas Mulcair stressed the accusations of harassment were not against Chicoine himself.
“There’s no accusation of harassment against a Member of Parliament. These are cross allegations between employees,” Mulcair told reporters.
“This has been taken care of under the collective agreement where management and the union have looked at it together. And the union and the management have concluded that no action was required (in) this case.”