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Vol. 17, No. 3, Wednesday, December 8, 2021 www.LamontLeader.com
MP Stubbs targeted with toxic workplace allegations Popular MP claims she is another victim of leader O’Toole’s revenge tactics after calling for an early leadership review BY JOHN MATHER Lakeland MP Shannon Stubbs finds herself in hot water after Conservative Leader Erin O’Toole has asked for a House of Commons probe into reports she had staff members paint a room in her Lakeland riding home. There are also allegations of workplace harassment in Stubbs’ office. O’Toole’s office went to both the Commons human-resources office and the Commons administration office on Friday after The Globe and Mail inquired about the large turnover among Ms. Stubbs’s staff. This included two aides who said they went on mental-health sick-leave after experiencing verbal abuse and workplace harassment. Stubbs has denied the allegations of abusive behaviour, saying she is a victim of retaliation for being one of the dissidents in the Conservative caucus calling for an early review of Mr. O’Toole’s leadership. Stubbs acknowledged that staff painted her bedroom, but she said she considered it a gift, and that she was surprised to return home to the freshly painted room. “The painting of the house was a wonderful surprise that I didn’t know about. It was a wonderful gift of kindness from staff members,” Ms. Stubbs said. “I never asked or directed staff to paint my bedroom.” House of Commons rules do not allow MPs to use parliamentary and constituency employees to perform
personal chores, private business or errands unrelated to an MP’s duties. Stubbs was among a handful of MPs who were recently stripped of their shadow cabinet roles for their criticism of Mr. O’Toole’s performance during the summer election. She wanted the party to vote on O’Toole’s future as party leader within six months rather than wait until the 2023 party convention when a leadership review has to be held. “Our party has a rule in place in our constitution that our members must have the opportunity to Lakeland MP Shannon Stubbs vote on a leadership review after a loss in a tion in the shadow cabinet, which ultigeneral election,” she said shortly after mately did happen. the Sept. 18 federal election. “It could affect that but here is what I “We just lost the general election… have done since I was elected in 2015. I we fell back in every single metric, in reflect the majority view of the people I every single measure since 2019 and represent,” she said. “And from what that’s a fact.” I’ve heard from the people I represent She said the results aren’t in dispute, since Sept. 18, is that they are unsettled so the party should figure out a way for from the results of this election cammembers to have a review of leader- paign. They are frustrated about some ship in a timeframe when members are waffling that happened, some reversals still thinking about the outcome of the of positions. I was nominated as a election. Conservative candidate and elected She admitted at the time her com- three times. I am running on ments could result in her losing a posi- Conservative principles based on our
members' policies.” Late in the afternoon of Dec. 6, several Conservatives came to Stubbs' defence. Former cabinet minister Gerry Ritz tweeted out “Shannon is a great MP.” Gregory Loerts, who works in Stubbs’ Ottawa office, tweeted, Stubbs is “wonderful to know personally. “The work has been challenging, but extremely rewarding.” Stubbs has won her riding for the Conservatives by huge margins in the past three elections. Alissa Golob, co-founder of antiabortion organization RightNow, which has been fiercely critical of O’Toole walking back promises he made to protect the conscience rights of health-care professionals, tweeted Dec. 6 that the leader was embarking on a “witch hunt.” Stubbs’ office did not immediately respond to a request for comment, but she stated the house-painting was a gift. She denied any wrongdoing, saying she felt targeted for calling for a review of O’Toole’s leadership. Other competitors for Tory leadership have also been cast aside. Derek Sloan was ejected from caucus over “destructive behaviour.” Leslyn Lewis was cut out of his shadow cabinet. Pierre Piolievre, was demoted and later re-assigned the position of Shadow Finance Minister. Only a few weeks ago, another dessenting Conservative Denise Batters was ousted from caucus.