O’Toole asks House to investigate malicious workplace allegations against Alberta congressman

Conservative leader Erin O’Toole said he has asked the House of Commons to probe allegations that the Alberta MP Shannon Stubbs created a toxic work environment for her employees.

The move prompted others, including those who want O’Toole to be ousted from leadership, to defend her after she called for a review of his leadership role following his defeat in the presidential election. party elections.

O’Toole said he was aware of the allegations, which were first reported by the Globe and Mail last Monday while on tour in Quebec. The Canadian Press confirmed an allegation in the report that employees said they felt pressured to paint her home.

Stubbs’ office did not immediately respond to a request for comment, but told the Globe the painting of the house was a gift and denied any wrongdoing, saying she felt targeted for having called for a review of O’Toole’s leadership.

David Parker, a former employee who has been in Stubbs’ office for almost a year since 2016, told The Canadian Press it’s clear that for the congressman, “nothing is good enough, ever. “

Three other former employees, who spoke to The Canadian Press on condition of anonymity because they feared reprisal, allege that Stubbs would publicly criticize office colleagues, send messages overnight and make slurs. disparaging comments.

The Canadian press did not review the alleged communications.

O’Toole said on Monday he had asked the House of Commons to look into the matter because the charges were serious in nature and hoped his MPs would behave in a professional manner.

“As leader for a year, I have placed expectations on all of my MPs that we will have a professional and respectful working environment,” he said in response to the charges.

However, others stood up to her defense.

Gregory Loerts, who now works in her office, tweeted Monday that Shannon “was great to get to know her personally”.

“Challenging, but incredibly rewarding work.”

Former Conservative Cabinet Secretary Gerry Ritz tweeted on Monday that “Shannon is a great MP.”

The Globe and Mail reported that Jordan Paquet, who worked for Stubbs for four months in 2020, told the newspaper that he “gets along well” with Stubbs. He added that he “didn’t notice anything untested. No abuse or anything like that. ”

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Stubbs is so far the only Conservative MP to publicly call for O’Toole’s performance to be reviewed by party members within six months of his defeat in the September election.

Outside their first caucus in October, Stubbs said O’Toole overturned a number of key Conservative policy positions and that the grassroots deserved a say if the leader had the will. intend to make more changes to the party.

Alissa Golob, co-founder of the anti-abortion group RightNow, has fiercely criticized O’Toole’s return to promises he has made around protecting the right to conscience of healthcare professionals. , tweeted Monday that the leader was embarking on a “witch hunt.”

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