“What should be done to prevent sexual harassment by and among MPs and other Members of the Parliament Hill community?”
Cameron Ahmad Liberal strategist “Sexual violence and harassment of any kind are completely unacceptable in any workplace, and that of course includes Parliament Hill. That is why our government ran on a commitment to take action on workplace harassment and sexual violence in Parliament and in all federally regulated workplaces. “An important step in ensuring […]
NDP harassment probe shows perils of party discipline
What the heck is happening with Erin Weir and the NDP? NDP leader Jagmeet Singh held a press conference Feb. 1 to announce that there would be an independent investigation into allegations from a fellow caucus member that Mr. Weir, the NDP MP for Regina-Lewvan, had harassed women. So far, so good: kudos to the […]
#MeToo movement creating a ‘transformational change’ on Hill, inappropriate sexual conduct to be dealt with quickly and finally, say MPs, pundits
MPs say a “transformational change” is happening on the Hill, spurred by the recent “avalanche” of allegations of sexual harassment, harassment, and misconduct in Canadian federal politics, and some say they’re “terrified,” by the culture shift. “We’re certainly in a transformation moment, and to see it in the sports world, to see it in the […]
Racism is a health crisis
Lionel Desmond was a black veteran of the war in Afghanistan struggling with post-traumatic stress disorder. In January of last year, after being unable to access the care he desperately needed, he killed his wife, daughter and mother before turning the gun on himself. We do not know to what extent the added stress of […]
For Ontario PCs, the sniff of power is more potent than the stench of scandal
OTTAWA—Not unexpectedly, the Progressive Conservative Party of Ontario is reeling following the resignation of its leader Patrick Brown after sexual misconduct allegations were levelled against him. A few days later, another top PC Ontario executive, party president Rick Dykstra (a close friend of Brown), also stepped down, hours before Maclean’s magazine published a story concerning […]
‘Just the start’: more stories of sexual harassment expected to rock political Ottawa, say observers
More stories of sexual misconduct and harassment are bound to surface on Parliament Hill in the coming weeks and months, with highly-publicized allegations levelled against Patrick Brown and Kent Hehr giving renewed urgency to the #MeToo and Time’s Up movements, according to former Hill staffers and political observers. “I certainly think it’s the beginning, not the […]
Women’s all-party caucus should join forces and speak up
Former Ontario PC leader Patrick Brown and federal Sport minister Kent Hehr abruptly resigned from their posts last week after women blew the whistle on them, alleging sexual misconduct. Within hours, Mr. Brown’s career was over. More women are expected to publicly call out sexual misconduct and sexual harassment on the Hill so it will […]
Why ‘King for a Day’ approaches to homelessness don’t work
Three years ago, I set out for clinic on the kind of morning like those we’ve been having in Toronto lately, where even the hair in your nostrils freezes with each breath. I had walked about two intersections before I realized my fingers were stiff from cold—of course, I had chosen that day to forget […]
Trudeau’s totalitarian tendencies laid bare in abortion policy: reader
Re: Editorial cartoon (The Hill Times, Jan. 22, p. 8). Stephen Harper, who had a number of disagreements with the Supreme Court, once said “as a general rule, I don’t believe in imposing values upon people.” And quoting from the National Post on June 20, 2014, “Harper sharpened his message on abortion…saying political parties have […]
House should rewrite rules for pregnant MPs, it’s about time
OTTAWA—In October, after a hard-fought leadership race, NDP MP Niki Ashton gave birth to twin boys. Little has been made of it because, after all, women give birth every day in this country. While remaining an active Member of Parliament, Ashton has also been adjusting to life with not one, but two young infants while […]
