David Coon, MLA/Député

“This represents a level of political interference that has reached dizzying heights – heights we haven’t seen so far in this legislative assembly,” Coon said. “It is corrupting the very work of the seat of our democracy. It’s a bad day for democracy, and New Brunswickers need and deserve better.”

Article by: KATRINA CLARKE

A committee of politicians wants MLA Chris Collins to write a letter of apology and complete sensitivity training over harassment allegations against him that were founded “in part.”

Reaction to the decision – and the lack of information available to the legislative administration committee – was swift and damning.

Green Party leader David Coon said the committee, which is majority Liberal, voted against releasing the committee lawyer’s 11-page legal opinion, which included options for sanctions – among which writing a letter and taking sensitivity training were options. Direction to vote to withhold the report appeared to come from the premier’s office, Coon said.

He called the committee’s refusal to allow disclosure of the document “absurd and a farce.”

“This represents a level of political interference that has reached dizzying heights – heights we haven’t seen so far in this legislative assembly,” Coon said. “It is corrupting the very work of the seat of our democracy. It’s a bad day for democracy, and New Brunswickers need and deserve better.”

Liberal Serge Rouselle rejected Coon’s accusations.

“There’s no way the premier’s office would have known about that document,” Rouselle told the Daily Gleaner, saying he found the accusation disrespectful. “We can listen and make our own decisions.”

Asked why the committee voted to not see the document, Rouselle said he didn’t want to get into details.

“Confidentiality here is very important,” he said, referring to harassment complaints in general.

Reached by email, T.J. Burke, Collins’ lawyer, said his client had “no comment.”

Little is known about the person who accused Collins of harassment, beyond that they were a former legislature employee. Gallant has said that staff in the premier’s office had previously been made aware of “personality conflicts” between Collins and the former employee. The former employee was transferred to another job, he said.

The committee met in a closed-door session for 90 minutes Friday morning.

“Based on legal advice, the committee has determined that the appropriate sanctions in this matter are as follows: that Collins provide a written letter of apology addressed to the complainant within 30 days; and that Collins successfully complete anti-harassment and sensitivity training within 30 days,” read a government news release sent out Friday afternoon.

The release said the sanctions followed a meeting to consider what action it should “request.” The committee now considers the matter resolved, stated the release.

Coon said he also wanted to know what sanctions the complainant asked for. Coon said he was aware the complainant made suggestions “at a high level” regarding what he or she felt was appropriate.

After the meeting but before the decision was released, Progressive Conservative Ted Flemming and Coon both told reporters the decision was not unanimous.

“It was a completely one-sided deal,” said Flemming. “It was a real we versus they,” he said. “It is completely party lines. It is the five Liberal members voting one way.”

Flemming also said the committee was provided with “practically nothing” in terms of information following the investigation – something he said he will later speak to.

Coon said the committee failed the victim.

“The legislative administration committee failed the victim of this harassment,” Coon told reporters. “It did not provide a harassment-free workplace for an employee of the legislative assembly.”

He noted the legislature employs young staffers, including interns, and needs to protect them.

Coon was critical that the sub-committee struck to develop harassment policy for the legislature had not yet met.

“Recourse in the event of harassment needs to be clear and effective and timely,” he said. “None of those things are in place yet.”

PC MLA Pam Lynch, also a member of the legislative administration committee, said she was “disappointed” the sub-committee hadn’t yet called a meeting.

“I just know we should have met by now,” she said.

After the all-party legislative administration committee met Monday, acting committee chair Bernard LeBlanc revealed the allegations against Collins were founded “in part.”

Premier Brian Gallant suspended Collins from caucus in April when he announced the speaker was facing harassment allegations.