Former NDP MP Peter Stoffer denies misconduct allegations

NDP not yet investigating complaints against Stoffer

NDP spokeswoman not ruling out a future investigation

The Canadian Press · Posted: Feb 12, 2018


Former federal MP Peter Stoffer talks to reporters to address sexual harassment allegations in Halifax on Friday, Feb. 9, 2018. Stoffer denied the claims but apologized for actions that might have been interpreted as inappropriate.

The federal NDP is not planning an investigation into how the party handled allegations of sexual misconduct against former MP Peter Stoffer — at least not right now.

New Democrats have been looking inward after several women who worked for the party came forward in recent days alleging Stoffer acted inappropriately toward them — allegations that included reports of touching and kissing.

At least one told the National Post that her complaints were raised with senior party leaders after two alleged incidents in 2006 and 2009, but they essentially were ignored.

Stoffer, who held the Halifax-area riding of Sackville-Eastern Shore from 1997 to 2015, has acknowledged some of his actions may have caused discomfort and has apologized for that. But he has denied sexually assaulting or physically abusing anyone.

Party spokeswoman Sarah Andrews said Monday NDP leader Jagmeet Singh has opened his door to anyone who wants to share their experiences, but there are no current plans to dive into the allegations against Stoffer.

"I wouldn't say an investigation has been absolutely ruled out. As of now, one hasn't been launched," Andrews told The Canadian Press.

"Caucus hasn't had a chance to meet yet, so they'll be meeting on Wednesday. I imagine it will come up as a topic of conversation. And we're monitoring the situation. It might evolve."

Singh recently launched an investigation into allegations of harassment against current New Democrat MP Erin Weir, after caucus colleague Christine Moore said she had heard of some female staffers raising concerns about harassment. Moore had not personally experienced the alleged harassment herself.

Potential complainants have been given until Feb. 20 to come forward with specific allegations. Weir has denied any wrongdoing.

Conservatives reviewing policies

Federal Conservative Leader Andrew Scheer also has ordered an external investigation into how former MP Rick Dykstra was allowed to run as candidate for the party in 2015 despite senior party officials knowing that he had been accused of sexual assault.

Dykstra has denied the allegations, which have not been tested in court or independently confirmed by The Canadian Press.

New Democrats say their party is focused on strengthening its anti-harassment policies in lieu of an investigation, and the issue will be a major focus inside caucus and at the party's biennial policy convention in Ottawa later this week.

NDP MPs will receive sensitivity training from an outside presenter in the coming weeks, Andrews said, while a briefing has been scheduled with the House of Commons' director of human resources to create and sustain a safe workplace.

The party is also offering a 45-minute online course to all its MPs, along with small group sessions.

Meanwhile, delegates at the policy convention starting Friday will be presented with an updated anti-harassment policy that has been in the works for several months and will include guidance for raising and handling complaints.

"We realized that our policy wasn't sufficient in many contexts. It was a policy that was mostly made with conventions and these types of gatherings in mind," said a senior party official, who was not authorized to speak publicly on the matter.

"But it was incomplete when it comes to office relationships, campaign offices and stuff like that. It will define more clearly what is acceptable and what isn't, especially what isn't. Because the ultimate goal is to still prevent it from happening at all."

The party also plans to hold training sessions for delegates who want to attend, the official said, and will increase the number of "anti-harassment co-ordinators" and make them more visible during the convention.

http://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/ndp-investigation-stoffer-peter-1.4532106

Stoffer’s wife defends him amid
accusations of sexual harassment

ANDREW RANKIN THE CHRONICLE HERALD
Published February 13, 2018


Peter Stoffer, then NDP candidate for Sackville Eastern Shore, and his wife Andrea leave a polling station in Fall River after casting their votes for the 2008 federal election.

Peter Stoffer’s wife is speaking out in defence of her husband, who’s been the subject of multiple sexual harassment accusations in recent days stemming from his tenure as a member of Parliament.

“I have no concern about these allegations, many of which have been coming from unnamed people,” said Andrea Pottyondy Stoffer. “They are probably not true. (Peter) would never ever proposition women, or anything like that. I have no doubt he’s a good man.”

She suggested many of the allegations are coming from a group of people in Ottawa who never liked her husband or his style of work. She did not speculate on the identity of those people.

“They didn’t like him because he was so different, but those people don’t matter to me.

“I know he liked to hug and kiss women on the cheeks and I have no problem with that because he did it when I was there. All of his friends and the people that know him, know what his intentions were/are.”

A firestorm of sexual harassment accusations against her husband has surfaced since a National Post investigation last week reported allegations against the popular former NDP Sackville-Preston-Chezzetcook MP ranging from unwanted kissing and groping to invitations for threesomes and other inappropriate comments, from early in his tenure to just before his defeat.

The alleged incidents involved young female political staffers. Several women have since come forward with more allegations, including two women who told The Chronicle Herald they were propositioned by Stoffer while working as young political staffers.

Several of those stories reveal that the alleged accusers complained to their supervisors in the party but their concerns were never properly addressed.

Stoffer said her husband is a kind, loving man, whose overly affectionate manner has been misinterpreted as predatory behaviour.

She also said that her husband has become a victim of what she considers an overly aggressive #MeToo campaign that offers little in the way of due process for the accused. A victim of sexual harassment herself, Stoffer said she supports the spirit of the campaign that’s been illustrating the widespread prevalence of sexual harassment and assault, but argues the process of outing alleged accusers should be conducted more carefully.

“I think it’s a good thing. It has happened to all women, including myself. The pendulum has swung way too far and Peter’s just gotten caught up in it. His actions were taken out of context.

“The people that know him and love him know exactly what he’s like. He’s always been a little different from most people. He’s always been much more friendlier than most people. I think he just wanted to bring people together in Ottawa. He’s a loving person.”

She said that she and her husband have always conducted themselves as a team and will continue to so. But she said the events of recent days have taken a toll on both of them. She said the ordeal has had a profound impact on her husband and she expects he’ll become a much more private person because of it.

“Put yourself in that situation and you’ll know. But we’ll continue on and continue to do the good work that we do. We just want to have our privacy. The media, it’s kind of like a feeding frenzy right now.”

Stoffer appeared apologetic and blindsided by the accusations when he faced reporters last week, saying that his nature — he claimed he has always been a touchy, friendly guy who liked to throw parties in his office — has been interpreted in a way he did not intend.

http://thechronicleherald.ca/novascotia/1544965-stoffer%E2%80%99s-wife-defends-him-amid-accusations-of-sexual-harassment