XPost: can.politics, bc.politics, ab.politics   
   XPost: sk.politics, man.politics, mtl.general   
   From: Panca@nyet.ca   
      
   Seems he's getting the reputation of moving just a tad too quickly on some   
   issues - trying, no doubt, to dispel the speculations of being too much of a   
   fence sitter.   
   This time he's likely going to have to reinstate the two MPs he removed from   
   caucus - because the accusers refuse to lay a formal complaint against them.   
      
   Yeah, it's time that sexual harassment and assault were made a priority in all   
   places of employment or schools.  But the laws must first be adjusted to not   
   allow the accuser to be the one 'put on trial' through invasive, personal   
   questioning - especially about previous personal lifestyle.   
      
   NO ONE'S names should be released during the investigation process: not the   
   accuser's, not the accused.  Those can be made AFTER the court case is complete   
   and results in someone being charged.  The current system is bullshit.  And   
   THIS case is an example of it. . . .   
   ___________________________________   
   Mark Kennedy, Postmedia News | November 18, 2014   
      
   MPs who made harassment allegations won’t file complaints — creating a   
   dilemma   
   for Trudeau   
      
      
   Two female NDP MPs who allege improper conduct by a duo of male Liberal MPs   
   will not be formally laying a complaint to launch an investigation, says a   
   senior New Democrat.   
      
   The decision could leave Liberal Leader Justin Trudeau with a political   
   dilemma: Without an investigation, does he allow his two MPs back into caucus   
   after suspending their membership because of the allegations?   
      
   The development comes in advance of a closed-door meeting on Parliament Hill   
   Tuesday of the all-party Board of Internal Economy (BOIE), which is chaired by   
   Speaker Andrew Scheer.   
      
   The group is meeting after a Nov. 5 request from the Liberals for Scheer and   
   the BOIE to establish a process — preferably a “neutral third party” —   
   to   
   investigate the allegations.   
      
   As well, the group is expected to review a written request by NDP Leader Tom   
   Mulcair and NDP Whip Nycole Turmel to establish a Code of Conduct on harassment   
   for MPs, and to appoint an independent officer of Parliament to investigate all   
   complaints.   
      
   However, in an interview Monday, Turmel said that the NDP’s proposals would   
   only apply to future complaints.   
      
   She said that the two NDP MPs, neither of whom has been publicly identified,   
   have indicated so far that they do not want to lay a formal complaint.   
      
   “They are not ready,” Turmel said. “They haven’t shown any sign that   
   they   
   wanted to come forward. So on this we have followed them. That’s the last   
   word   
   we got from them.”   
      
   The political firestorm erupted on Nov. 5 when Trudeau revealed that his two   
   MPs, Scott Andrews and Massimo Pacetti, had been accused of “serious personal   
   misconduct” by MPs from another party, which he did not name.   
      
   Trudeau immediately suspended both men from caucus and suspended their   
   candidacies for the next election, pending an investigation. Both men have   
   denied wrongdoing and have issued statements saying they will fully co-operate   
   with an independent investigator into the allegations.   
      
   On Monday, a spokeswoman for Trudeau reiterated in a written statement that the   
   Liberals have asked Scheer to “present a credible, third-party process which   
   would take into account issues of confidentiality, among others.   
      
   “In our view, any process presented by the Speaker should be capable of   
   addressing both current and future allegations of misconduct,” said Kate   
   Purchase. “We look forward to the Speaker’s response.”   
      
   With regards to Mulcair’s proposals, she said the Liberals “will consider   
   any   
   constructive measures that aim to improve workplace safety and protect people   
   from harassment.”   
      
   Trudeau had been approached on Oct. 28 by a female NDP MP in Hamilton, where   
   they had attended a funeral for Cpl. Nathan Cirillo.   
      
   Trudeau then instructed his party whip, Judy Foote, to look into the matter.   
   She held a meeting on Oct. 30 with Turmel and the two NDP MPs, who outlined   
   allegations against Pacetti and Andrews.   
      
   What happened at that meeting is now central to the political storm brewing on   
   Parliament Hill. Trudeau’s staff and MPs say he had no option but to go   
   public   
   with the allegations and to suspend his Pacetti and Andrews so an investigation   
   could occur.   
      
   But Turmel said Monday that the two NDP MPs left no doubt during the meeting   
   what they wanted.   
      
   “People were clear, both of them,” said Turmel.   
      
   “They were clear they did not want to put a complaint in. They were meeting   
   with her (Foote) to give her the situation and that’s it. They said,   
   ‘It’s up   
   to you. We are not putting a complaint in.’”   
      
   She said the women needed time to “find a way to heal” from the alleged   
   misconduct.   
      
   “That’s what they are facing now. And that’s why they don’t want this   
   to go on.   
   They just want to go on with their lives.”   
      
   Turmel said that both she and the MPs were angry when they learned on Nov. 5,   
   through social media, that their allegations had prompted Trudeau to go public.   
      
   “None of the women were aware that it [would] come out. They were expecting a   
   bit of respect. And a bit of respect meant that they should have known or they   
   should have been informed what was the next step.”   
      
   Turmel declined to comment on what Trudeau should now do – given that the NDP   
   MPs will not “come forward” with their allegations.   
      
   “Mr. Trudeau has to deal with his two MPs,” she said. “It’s up to him.   
   I won’t   
   touch that part.”   
      
   On the weekend, Prime Minister Stephen Harper was asked about the issue of   
   harassment at a news conference at the G20 summit in Australia.   
      
   “What I do know is, obviously, sexual harassment is a very serious issue,   
   and I   
   know that in our government we have had policies on how we deal with this for   
   some time. It’s important to have those kinds of policies,” said Harper.   
      
   “I think it is incumbent upon the Board of Internal Economy, the other   
   parties,   
   to look at options.”   
      
   --- SoupGate-Win32 v1.05   
    * Origin: you cannot sedate... all the things you hate (1:229/2)