So, how many more Conservative types will be forced to step down before the   
   next election?  Not good, PCs . . . .  not good.  Time to check under Doug   
   Ford's bed?   
   ___________________________   
   The Canadian Press - Monday, April 9, 2018 2:05PM EDT   
      
      
   Ontario PC MPP Harris kicked out of caucus over sexual harassment allegations:   
   party   
      
      
   TORONTO -- An Ontario Progressive Conservative legislator has been removed   
   from caucus and disqualified from running for re-election under the Tory   
   banner after facing sexual harassment allegations from a former intern.   
      
   In a statement issued Monday, the Tories said the decision to oust Michael   
   Harris followed evidence the party received on Friday that included a written   
   complaint from a former intern dating back to 2013.   
      
   The party said they also obtained a series of text messages "of a sexual   
   nature" between the intern and Harris, which included a request for her to   
   send him photos, an invitation for her to meet with him late at night and a   
   reference to something that    
   may have taken place in his office at Queen's Park.   
      
   The statement said Harris was asked about the issue and only denied that a   
   formal complaint was ever made.   
      
   Progressive Conservative Leader Doug Ford declined to comment on the   
   allegations but caucus chair Lisa Thompson said he had been briefed on the   
   issue and had taken "immediate action."   
      
   "We take allegations very very seriously, zero tolerance -- anything less than   
   zero tolerance is unacceptable," Thompson said.   
      
   Asked why it took several days for the party to remove Harris from caucus --   
   he was sitting with the Tories in the legislature Monday morning -- Thompson   
   would only say that she learned of the allegations Monday.   
      
   Harris could not immediately be reached for comment Monday, but said over the   
   weekend he had chosen not to run in the spring election for medical reasons.   
      
   "It has been an incredibly difficult decision to make, but I know for the sake   
   of my health, it is the right call," he said in a statement Saturday, adding   
   he would seek a corneal replacement for a progressive eye disease.   
      
   He left the House without speaking to reporters Monday.   
      
   Harris, 38, is a married father of four who was first elected to the   
   provincial legislature in 2011. He was subsequently re-elected in 2014 and has   
   served as opposition critic for transportation and research, innovation and   
   science.   
      
   His wife Sarah told the Waterloo Record over the weekend that she was   
   considering running in his place in the June election.       (>_<)       
      
   The Tories said their nominations committee reviewed the evidence and   
   unanimously decided to bar Harris from seeking re-election in his riding of   
   Kitchener-Conestoga. They said the party also decided to remove him from   
   caucus effective immediately.   
      
   The allegations come months after the Tories' former leader, Patrick Brown,   
   resigned amid allegations of sexual misconduct, which he has consistently   
   denied.   
      
   --- SoupGate-Win32 v1.05   
    * Origin: you cannot sedate... all the things you hate (1:229/2)