Prime Minister’s office sets up secret harassment investigation bureau
Posted February 5, 2018 10:38 am.
Last Updated February 5, 2018 10:51 am.
This article is more than 5 years old.
OTTAWA (NEWS 1130) – We’re finding out today the Prime Ministers office set up a secret bureau in order to address harassment complaints in the government.
The bureau was quietly set up in October and the Huffington Post reports it has two employees who can receive, investigate, and resolve any harassment complaints about exempt staff like those who work in the Prime Minister or other cabinet minister’s offices.
Its existence has come to light after a woman wrote a blog detailing her experiences of harassment on the Hill.
Myriam Denis claims before and after a 2016 job interview for a government position, two Liberal staff members separately contacted her and made sexual innuendos or made comments about her body.
When she raised this with senior staff, one was already leaving his job and the other resigned Friday after an independent investigation.
This bureau contacted the woman in an effort to speak about her claims, a move she felt was inappropriate since a third party investigation was underway.
Citing privacy reasons, the PMO won’t say how many cases this bureau has investigated since it was set up.
