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2 Liberal MPs Suspended From Caucus After Sexual Harassment Allegations

Posted: 11/05/2014 10:13 am EST Updated: 01/13/2015 4:59 pm EST

OTTAWA — The Liberal Party has suspended two male Liberal MPs from its caucus pending an investigation into two separate sexual harassment allegations made by two MPs of another party.

The Huffington Post Canada has learned these are two female NDP MPs.

Montreal MP Massimo Pacetti and Newfoundland MP Scott Andrews were evicted from the Liberal caucus until further notice by leader Justin Trudeau Wednesday morning. The move came after Trudeau was approached by one of the MPs who was affected by one of the men’s behaviour. The two cases are unrelated, and the two men deny the accusations.

In a letter to the Speaker of the Commons, Liberal Whip Judy Foote said Trudeau was made aware on Oct. 28 of two “unrelated allegations of personal misconduct” and that he asked her to reach out to the affected MPs, investigate and find an appropriate resolution.

Foote said she met with the whip of the party which the MPs belong to last Wednesday and met with the women separately last Thursday.

“I have also spoken to separately to each of the members whose conduct is in question. They both deny the allegations,” Foote wrote.

UPDATE: NDP Leader Thomas Mulcair spoke briefly to reporters about the allegations.
"We want to make sure all parties work on these issues and it's something we should do together," he said.
At a press conference shortly after, Justin Trudeau said the candidacy of the two Liberal MPs in the 2015 election had also been suspended pending an investigation.
"This is a difficult situation but as leader I had an obligation to take action — a duty to take action — when I heard of the serious allegations of this nature," he told reporters.
He called on Parliament to develop a process to deal with complaints between MPs.
"It's 2014, it's time this workplace, like other workplaces across the country, had a process whereby these issues can be aired and dealt with."
A few hours later, Scott Andrews released a statement welcoming an investigation.
"I intend to fully cooperate with answering any and all questions from an independent third-party investigator," the statement reads. "I am confident such a process will find that no harassment has occurred."
Pacetti also released a statement saying he does not know the specific details of the allegations against him but is confident he will be exonerated.
"Until such time, I will sit in the House of Commons as an independent Member, and continue to represent the citizens of my riding," he said in the statement.

Speaker Andrew Scheer's office said he was "seized with the issue and takes the matter very seriously."

"He has directed the House administration to make available all internal resources to the individuals involved," his spokeswoman Heather Bradley said in a statement.

"The Speaker has also directed that the matter be taken up at the Board of Internal Economy at the earliest available opportunity."

The identity, gender and the party of the complainants were not released by the Liberal party.

Trudeau’s spokeswoman Kate Purchase said: “It’s not for us to name them. Mr. Trudeau has a duty to protect and encourage people in these situations to come forward.”

It’s unclear what prompted the MP to come forward. HuffPost has learned the alleged incidents happened several months ago in one case and more than a year ago in the other. It’s possible the sexual assault allegations about CBC personality Jian Ghomeshi and the discussions it sparked may have played a factor.

Story continues below

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IN QUOTES: Hill Harassment Allegations

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"I am aware of how difficult it is for people to come forward. I believe strongly that those of us in positions of authority have a duty to act upon allegations of this nature." Read his full statement
"At 9:30 this morning I was informed by Justin Trudeau, Leader of the Liberal Party of Canada, that I have been suspended from caucus, based on allegations against me of 'personal misconduct.' I have not been provided with the specific details of the allegations that led to this suspension. House Speaker Andrew Scheer has been asked to conduct and independent investigation, which I intend to cooperate fully, and which I am confident will exonerate me. Until such time, I will sit in the House of Commons as an independent Member, and continue to represent the citizens of my riding of Saint-Léonard/Saint-Michel, which I have represented with integrity and dedication since May 2002."
"Today, Judy Foote MP sent a letter to the Speaker of the House of Commons requesting an independent third-party to investigate an allegation of harassment. While I understand there is an established process to deal with harassment between Members of Parliament and staff, there is no process to deal with allegations between MPs themselves, and therefore I encourage the Speaker or Board of Internal Economy to establish an appropriate process without delay. I believe that our Parliament needs to be a workplace free of harassment, for both staff and MPs I intend to fully cooperate with answering any and all questions from an independent third-party investigator. However, it would not be appropriate for me to answer questions prior to a non-partisan process being established and being provided with the specifics of the allegation. I am confident such a process will find that no harassment has occurred. As a Member of Parliament, I will continue to work for my constituents throughout this process, both in Avalon and in Parliament."
"The persons involved, the alleged victims of this harassment or misconduct, didn’t know that this would be coming. So imagine, they are victims and they are victimized a second time." Read more
"Our No. 1 concern was to make sure that they got the help they needed and that their wishes were respected. Those wishes included a very strong desire to keep this confidential. That was their request and we were not about to override that and make them victims a second time." Read more
"I attended a meeting with the Liberal Whip at the request of, and in order to help and support, a friend and colleague. My good faith contribution to this meeting was confidential. This good faith has been breached, and confidentiality deliberately broken in a way that further disrespects and puts pressure on the victim. At the same time, these actions continue to completely ignore the rights of former Liberal MPs. I got involved to help a colleague, with one cardinal rule: respect the wishes of the victim. For those who still do not understand: one must respect victims rights, whether the issue is civil, criminal or disciplinary. Unlike others, I do not believe there is any virtue, let alone an ethical duty, to act contrary to victims' wishes. For Liberal backroom operators to claim that somehow I am responsible for Justin Trudeau's decision is simply laughable. I will therefore not dignify this spin with any further comments." Read more
"As far as I'm concerned, right now we have nothing more than a smear here. Read more
In an interview with The Huffington Post Canada, one of the alleged victims shed some on the allegations that may have gotten Pacetti booted from the Liberal caucus. The MP, who was not named in the story, said she and Pacetti had sex "without explicit consent" that hurt. She later complained directly to Trudeau. Read the full story
Sources also spoke with The Canadian Press about the accusations surrounding Andrews, who spent time socially with the other alleged NDP victim. From the story: "According to sources, the woman alleges that Andrews followed her home, forced his way through her door, pushed her against a wall, groped her and ground his pelvis against her. She ordered him to leave. He did. Afterwards, sources say the woman alleges that Andrews repeatedly verbally harassed her, calling her a 'c-kteaser.'" Andrews' lawyer denied the MP behaved improperly. Read the full story
"I am troubled that the complainant chose to air these allegations in the media as this is inconsistent with statements conveyed through her party that privacy and fairness must be respected for both sides," the statement continued. As with media reports of this nature, in this instance many questions remain unanswered and there is no way to evaluate the veracity of the claims being made. If need be, this matter should go through a confidential process mediated by an independent third party as was proposed by the Speaker of the House of Commons. Canadian standards of fairness and the presumption of innocence can then be maintained to arrive at the truth. I reaffirm my innocence and I will not comment on this matter in the media any further."
After the NDP MP's interviews, Tory MP Peter Goldring sent an eyebrow-raising press release warning MPs about the dangers of "consorting without protection." He later retracted the statement below and apologized. "It will not be good enough to simply say that your intentions were honourable and you were just inviting a colleague to your apartment at two in the morning to play a game of Scrabble at the end of a day of playing sports and drinking. MPs must learn, as I have from encounters with authority figures in the past, that all do not tell the truth. I now wear ‘protection’ in the form of body-worn video recording equipment. I suggest that others do so too, particularly because some accusers hide behind a shield of supposed credibility which many times is not, and sometimes even hide behind a cloak of anonymity, which conceals their shameful indiscretion and complicity." Read more
UP NEXT: How Much Are MPs, Senators Making?
On April 1, 2014, members of Parliament received a 2.2 per cent pay increase, bringing the basic pay of each MP up to $163,700 from $160,200 the year prior. But while that base salary is the same for every member, certain MPs are afforded the chance to make much more. The full list of indemnities, salaries and allowances can be found here.
Tory MP Brad Butt (Mississauga-Streetsville) is an example of an MP who earns just the base salary afforded to all MPs. 2014 Salary: $163,700 There are currently 308 MPs.
The Right Honourable Stephen Harper, however, makes double the salary of your average MP. 2014 Salary: $327,400 Car Allowance: $2,000
Tory MP Andrew Scheer (Regina—Qu'Appelle) earns the base salary, plus $78,300 for serving as Speaker. 2014 Salary: $242,000 Car allowance: $1,000
NDP Leader Thomas Mulcair earns the base MP salary, plus $78,300 for leading the Official Opposition. 2014 Salary: $242,000 Car Allowance: $2,000
Treasury Board President Tony Clement (Parry Sound–Muskoka), like other cabinet ministers, earns $78,300 on top of the base MP salary. 2014 Salary: $242,000 Car Allowance: $2,000 There are 39 cabinet ministers in Harper's government (including ministers of state who make slightly less).
Minister of State for Democratic Reform Pierre Poilievre (Nepean-Carleton), like all other ministers of state, earns $58,700 on top of his base MP salary. But junior ministers do not received a car allowance. 2014 Salary: $222,400
Liberal Leader Justin Trudeau and the leaders of the Green Party and Bloc Quebecois earn the base MP salary, plus $55,600 for serving as their party's top dog. 2014 Salary: $219,300
Tory MP Peter Van Loan (York-Simcoe) earns $78,300 on top of the base MP salary. 2014 Salary: $242,000 Car Allowance: $2,000
NDP MP Peter Julian (Burnaby—New Westminster) earns the base MP salary plus a $40,600 pay bump for serving as Opposition House leader. 2014 Salary: $204,300 Former NDP House leader Nathan Cullen recently took a $40,000 pay cut to move from that role to NDP finance critic.
Liberal MP Dominic LeBlanc (Beauséjour), earns the base MP salary plus $16,300 for serving as House leader for his party. 2014 Salary: $180,000
Tory MP John Duncan (Vancouver Island North) earns the base MP salary, plus $29,400 for serving as the Harper government's whip. 2014 Salary: $193,100
NDP MP Nycole Turmel (Hull—Aylmer) also earns an additional $29,400 for serving as the Opposition's whip. 2014 Salary: $193,100
Tory MP Paul Calandra (Oak Ridges—Markham) is one of 31 parliamentary secretaries who gets a $16,300 pay bump on top of their salaries. 2014 Salary: $180,000

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HuffPost knows the identities of the two women but is choosing not to name them at this time.

Foote has asked the Board of Internal Economy, an all-party committee that administers the House of Commons, look into the allegations.

The Board of Internal Economy has never publicly acknowledged investigating allegations of personal misconduct between MPs. The board is occasionally tasked with dealing with complaints about sexual harassment and wrongful dismissal between MPs and their employees. Those matters are always dealt with behind closed doors, with neither party publicly named.

Out-of-court settlement are also rarely, if ever, disclosed.

Pacetti, who represents the riding of Saint-Léonard—Saint-Michel, was first elected to the Commons in a by-election in 2002. The 54-year-old’s biography on his website states that he is married with two children.

Andrews, 39, is married with two young boys. He is the MP for the riding of Avalon and was first elected in 2008. HuffPost learned Wednesday morning that he had left Ottawa.

Neither man has a criminal record in Ontario, Quebec or Newfoundland and Labrador.

The Liberal caucus is now down to 35 MPs.

Liberal Letter to Speaker On Allegations

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