NDP MLA under investigation, accused of sexual harassment

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This article was published 15/12/2016 (3505 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

Former NDP cabinet minister Mohinder Saran is under investigation at the legislature after being accused of sexual harassment and has been barred from attending party caucus meetings.

Saran, who won re-election in his Maples riding in the spring provincial election, has not been part of NDP caucus events for weeks and concerns about his dealing with staff have led to an investigation at the Manitoba Legislature.

“The provincial human resources branch was notified and investigated the allegations,” NDP party press secretary Rachel Morgan said in a prepared statement. “The branch completed its investigation and is working with all parties to resolve all outstanding issues.

Party stonewalled media

However, the NDP have refused to identify Saran as the MLA under investigation from their 14-member caucus. Moreover, the NDP have stonewalled Free Press attempts to get answers on the situation involving Saran for more than two weeks. 

After repeated requests for comment, the party acknowledged Thursday afternoon that one of its MLAs has been suspended.

“The suspension followed allegations against the MLA of verbal sexual harassment,” said Morgan. “The MLA is fulfilling all requirements of the process and is expected to complete it in a short period of time. At that time, the caucus will reassess the status of the MLA. Due to confidentiality issues and to protect the identity of the complainant, there will be no further comment,” said Morgan.

Previously, NDP caucus members have been told to respond with “no comment” to reporters’ questions, one MLA said. The Free Press asked the party to provide a list of its active caucus members, to which Morgan replied, “no comment.”

Sources close to the investigation say Saran had his caucus privileges stripped following a staff member’s allegation of verbal harassment. 

Sources say the party was divided on how to deal with the matter.

Police are not involved in the investigation, Morgan said.

One source told the Canadian Press Saran was accused of making “inappropriate overtures, inappropriate comments” to a subordinate that verged on propositioning and that, because of the power imbalance, “someone’s livelihood was potentially at stake.”

Saran has not responded

Saran did not respond to emailed interview requests Thursday and was not in his constituency office on Mandalay Drive or at his listed home address when a Free Press reporter and photographer visited Thursday afternoon.

New Democrats have had a lot to say in recent months about how to handle sexual violence and sexual harassment, during debate on bills specifically to protect postsecondary students. What the NDP has emphasized is the need for victims to be able to come forward in safety, and for the need for incidents to be made public.

“We would want that reporting to happen in a way that is respectful of victims, that respects their privacy, … but also that encourages and ensures that there be a safe space so that people who are victimized by either harassment or violence of a sexual nature do feel comfortable in coming forward, seeking the supports that they are entitled to, and also the, you know, due process under the law that they should be afforded,” NDP MLA Wab Kinew said during a reading of his proposed bill, The Post-Secondary Sexual Violence and Sexual Harassment Policies Act.

On another occasion, interim leader Flor Marcelino told the legislature, “It is everyone’s collective responsibility to ensure that a culture of respect and safety exist.”

Saran’s situation has become public just one day after the 14-member NDP caucus learned that Point Douglas MLA Kevin Chief, one of its star members, has decided to leave politics and resign his seat within the next few days.

Myrna Driedger, Speaker of the Manitoba legislature, is said to be investigating a complaint against Saran.

Driedger refused to confirm that Thursday, but said in a statement, “The Speaker and the Legislative Assembly take any allegations of harassment very seriously. We have policies in place to ensure a safe work environment. In any situation, privacy must be respected, therefore I am not able to comment or discuss.”

Saran had not been seen in question period for more than a week before the session ended Dec. 2, and last spoke in the house in a brief response to the throne speech Nov. 28. 

 

nick.martin@freepress.mb.ca

kristin.annable@freepress.mb.ca