Former Manitoba cabinet minister alleges she was assaulted by former MLA

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This article was published 08/03/2024 (923 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

Former Progressive Conservative cabinet minister Sarah Guillemard has alleged a former MLA groped her at a gala event in March 2017 when she was a rookie politician.

Guillemard, the MLA for Fort Richmond from 2016 to 2023, posted a photo of herself and other MLAs, including Heather Stefanson, on social media Friday and wrote that the picture had been taken on the evening she was “groped by an older and former MLA.”

She said she used the occasion of International Women’s Day to reveal the incident to the public.

She noted the alleged groper, whom she did not name, was not in the photograph, which was taken at a Health Sciences Centre Foundation event to raise money for the hospital.

“I won’t share the details of the assault, but I will share the aftermath of its effect. The anger and rage was immediate, but so too was the realization that I had little power to do anything about it,” Guillemard wrote in the social media post.

“This was just before the #MeToo movement, and I was a political nobody.”

Guillemard wrote that she had told her husband and some friends but that she did not have other avenues to pursue meaningful consequences.

She said she didn’t go to activities she knew he would be at and avoided him at events they both attended.

She said during the #MeToo movement — in which Hollywood elite Harvey Weinstein, among others, was publicly accused of sexual assault — she read the stories of brave people who had been abused.

“I began to feel like I was part of allowing these hurts to continue with my own silence,” Guillemard wrote. “So I confided in two colleagues about what had occurred the year before. They both reacted with horror and instantly offered support in any way I needed.”

Guillemard said she sought ways to feel safe at the legislature and within the PC party.

“As the process took place, more people were made aware of the situation and the person who had done it as they were required to follow through on consequences,” she wrote.

“The person never denied the allegations, but neither did he admit to them. He did agree to the restrictions placed upon him at my workplace.”

She said two colleagues — a man and woman — asked her not to attend an event in the legislative chamber at which the alleged groper was to receive recognition, to avoid making him feel uncomfortable.

She said she refused to comply and was warned it would look “awkward” if she did not stand to clap. Guillemard said she retorted that he should reconsider getting the recognition.

“Shortly afterwards, I was removed from my extra duties and responsibilities at the legislative building,” Guillemard alleged, without elaboration.

“I was asked repeatedly not to share my story with anyone. My response was that I had no intention of sharing anything, but I wouldn’t hesitate to share if I find out he had continued his behaviour.”

Guillemard was made a cabinet minister in 2019.

Guillemard did not immediately respond to an interview requests.

Wayne Ewasko, leader of the Official Opposition, issued a statement: “As a former colleague and a friend, Sarah has my unconditional support. This is her truth to share in whatever manner she feels appropriate.”

Guillemard chose not to run in the October 2023 election.

erik.pindera@freepress.mb.ca