Don Meredith Victims Reject Senate’s Compensation Process: Lawyer
OTTAWA — Two women who experienced workplace and sexual harassment while working in former senator Don Meredith’s office will not participate in the Senate’s compensation process, citing the lack of a “level playing field.”
Brian Mitchell, the lawyer representing the two women, described the new independent evaluation process Tuesday as one that is “straightjacketed to ensure it protects the institution, and not with a generous and open heart towards the victims.”
“We’re not walking away,” he said, adding that the process needs to become one that’s fair and impartial to victims. “We’re walking out the door and hoping to be invited back.”
The women asked to be anonymous because of fear their statements will hurt their current employment on Parliament Hill.
Watch: Senate makes historic apology in sexual harassment case. Story continues below video.
The Senate’s powerful internal economy, budgets and administration (CIBA) committee, charged with managing the institution’s financial and internal affairs, announced a process in June to bring in an independent evaluator to determine compensation for Meredith’s former workplace victims.
Louise Otis, a former justice of the Quebec Court of Appeal, was tapped by the Senate in July to serve as the independent evaluator.
To be eligible for compensation, Senate public affairs officer Alexandra Scott-Larouche confirmed former employees have to co-operate in the new process.
“Ms. Otis will only provide a recommendation for potential financial compensation in respect of an employee who participates in the independent evaluation process,” Scott-Larouche wrote in an email.
Mitchell said his clients in recent weeks have been put in a position where they’re facing and negotiating directly with Senate lawyers. Those who choose to participate in the evaluation process are not allowed to have legal representation.
He said his clients feel the conditions of the new evaluation process increases a...
