PC caucus 'satisfied' party dealt properly with harassment complaint

The popular adage that a week is a lifetime in politics may seemparticularly true this week for members of the Nova Scotia Progressive Conservativecaucus.

A week ago, they were informedthat party officialshad demanded and received Jamie Baillie's resignation following an internal investigation into sexual harassment.This week, caucus gathered for a routine meeting with interim LeaderKarla MacFarlane.

But if anyone in caucus wasuneasy about last week's suddenturn of events the fact the party acted without seeking their advice orthe decision to not use the formal harassment complaint process established by the House of Assembly or was curious about what really happened between Baillie and the female caucus staffer who complained about his conduct,no one said so publicly when questioned by reporters Wednesday.

"I'm OKwith the process, how it unfolded," said Larry Harrison, MLA for Colchester-MusquodoboitValley.

"I've got to trust that the people involved made the proper decision for that particular situation," he told reporters at the caucus office in Halifax. "I've got to trust that."

Barbara Adams, MLA for Cole Harbour-Eastern Passage, echoed that view.

"I know that this investigation was not taken lightly and that there would have been a lot of consideration going into this because it was a major issue and it deserved a lot of time and respect going into it," she said. "All of those things gave us 100 per cent confidence across the board that the right decision was made and that the party did the right thing."

Brad Johns, MLA forSackville-BeaverBank, said, "I have confidence in the process and the way it went and I don't need to know the details."

Few details of incident

Caucus was briefed by party president TaraMiller last Wednesday about the investigation, but got few details about what Bailliedid.

Those outside caucus may want to know more, but of nine MLAsasked the question, not a single one said they wanted or needed to know more about what happened.

"I really don't want to know," said Pat Dunn.

The representative for Pictou Centre is satisfied with what he's been told.

"It's very personal between two different people. The party dealt with it and we're going to move on."

"What I don't want to be a part of is some kind of a hunt to find out exactly what happened if it hurts the person involved," said Allan MacMaster, MLA for Inverness. "That's whyto me, the details are not important."

Party whip satisfied with process

As the party's whip, Eddie Orrellis responsible for ensuring the House of Assembly's workplace harassmentpolicy is distributed and understoodby caucus members, staff and volunteers. Heis also the designated go-to person if anyone wants to file a formal complaint against an MLA.

But he too is satisfied with the fact the party took it upon itself to investigate the allegations and take action against Baillie without going through the formal process established in 2016.

"If the complainant andor the people involved had have wanted that process to be followed they would have triggered the process," he said. "Because they didn't trigger the process, I assume they didn't want that process followed."

As for the lack of detail aboutwhat happened, Orrellpointed to Baillie's resignation as proof it was a seriouscase of sexual harassment.

"I don't know the details, but if the leader resigned he must have figured it was bad enough to resign and did so."

Both men who have launched campaigns to become the next PC party leader, John Lohr and Tim Houston haveechoed the sentiments of caucus members.