Close X
Saturday, November 16, 2024
ADVT 
National

Jobs minister says he knew little of firing

Darpan News Desk The Canadian Press, 28 Oct, 2021 04:56 PM
  • Jobs minister says he knew little of firing

EDMONTON - Alberta's jobs minister says he heard rumours about his chief of staff raising a sexual harassment issue which she alleges led to her being fired by the premier’s office.

“A lot of that information was new to me,” Doug Schweitzer said Thursday.

“When it came to the situation involving Ivan Bernardo, I heard rumblings third- and fourth-hand. By the time I’d heard about it in the legislature, it was already being looked into through the (human resources) process, through the premier’s office.”

Schweitzer was responding to questions about a lawsuit filed earlier this month by his former chief of staff, Ariella Kimmel, against the office of Premier Jason Kenney.

Kimmel alleges the office fostered a "poisoned work environment'' and repeatedly failed to address her complaint of sexual harassment involving one of her staff.

None of the allegations has been proven in court.

Schweitzer was moved into the Jobs, Economy and Innovation portfolio in the summer of 2020.

In October that year through to her firing last February, says the statement of claim, Kimmel reached out many times to two other cabinet ministers and multiple senior staff in Kenney’s office on the sexual harassment allegation.

In the document, Kimmel alleges that Ivan Bernardo, a senior Health Department adviser, degraded and humiliated one of her staff at an office drinks get-together at the legislature. Kimmel alleges Bernardo told the employee, "I haven't seen you on this floor before because with a body like that, I would have noticed you.''

Bernardo, who now works as a lawyer in Calgary, has said in a statement it would be inappropriate to comment on a matter before the courts, but he welcomes a legal review and looks forward to providing his side of the story.

Kimmel, in the statement of claim, says she had been seeking resolution on the Bernardo matter along with a clear public process from the premier’s office on how such complaints should be handled.

She says she was told Bernardo would be leaving by the end of 2020, which he did.

In the meantime, the lawsuit alleges, Kimmel was subjected to anonymous online smears and gossip before being fired. She is seeking back pay and damages.

The statement of claim makes no reference to Schweitzer.

Schweitzer, when asked by reporters why Kimmel would try to resolve the issue by going to others but not him, did not answer directly.

“When she came on as my chief of staff, I had never worked with her before. We built a relationship over time where I came to trust her. I still trust her to this day. She was an excellent staffer," he said.

“Not one thing was alleged about me, my conduct, my office, the environment of my office," he added.

“I take great pride in making sure that I put in place a work environment that everybody feels as though they’re empowered.”

Kenney’s chief of staff, Pam Livingston, has said Kimmel’s dismissal was unrelated to the sexual harassment issue.

The Opposition NDP, during question period, sought answers on what Schweitzer knew.

“It’s simply unbelievable that (Schweitzer) didn’t know about these complaints,” Janis Irwin, women’s issues critic, told the house.

“Either the minister is fully unaware of what’s happening in his own office — which is troubling in itself — or he’s intentionally misleading Albertans.

“And why would he stand by and do nothing why his most senior staffer and most trusted political adviser suffered?”

Schweitzer wasn’t in the chamber.

Whitney Issik, associate minister for the status of women, replied that the United Conservative government has brought in mandatory training for all staff on respect in the workplace.

“And we are going to be initiating an independent review of human resources policy for political staff, ensuring that processes are clear and all staff are fully aware of the procedures and policies,” said Issik.

Health Minister Jason Copping told the house that Bernardo’s law firm has a contract to advise Alberta Health Services, which is responsible for front-line health-care delivery.

Copping said the heath provider has asked the law firm to remove Bernardo from any of the agency's files while the sex harassment allegation is addressed.

“This is a serious issue and we’re taking it seriously,” said Copping.

 

MORE National ARTICLES

Premier says sorry for breaking COVID health rules

Premier says sorry for breaking COVID health rules
Alberta Premier Jason Kenney, facing mounting criticism in cabinet and caucus, says he is sorry for breaking COVID-19 rules at a dinner party caught on camera.

Premier says sorry for breaking COVID health rules

PM: Feds eye path for return of overseas tourists

PM: Feds eye path for return of overseas tourists
Trudeau says he expects high interest from overseas travellers who wish to come to Canada because of vaccination uptake rates and case counts that are better than peer countries.

PM: Feds eye path for return of overseas tourists

Air Canada executives to return 2020 bonuses

Air Canada executives to return 2020 bonuses
The airline company says in a news release the president and CEO, as well as executive vice-presidents of Air Canada, have volunteered to return their bonuses and share appreciation units.

Air Canada executives to return 2020 bonuses

Canada to receive 2.4M vaccine doses this week

Canada to receive 2.4M vaccine doses this week
Those shots are the only expected shipments in what should be a comparatively quiet week of vaccine deliveries. Moderna shipped 500,000 doses last week, with another 1.5 million shots due to arrive next week.

Canada to receive 2.4M vaccine doses this week

Border agency in 'urgent need' of biometric plan

Border agency in 'urgent need' of biometric plan
The Canada Border Services Agency issued a notice of procurement today inviting 15 firms to submit proposals for immediately setting up an Office of Biometrics and Identity Management.

Border agency in 'urgent need' of biometric plan

Vancouver Police vehicle collides with bus, two officers badly hurt end up in hospital

Vancouver Police vehicle collides with bus, two officers badly hurt end up in hospital
Officers were responding to a call of a man with a gun at around 11:15 p.m. on June 4. While driving, they collided with a transit bus near East 41st Avenue and Dumfries Street. Both officers were extracted from their vehicle by firefighters and paramedics and taken to hospital.

Vancouver Police vehicle collides with bus, two officers badly hurt end up in hospital