harassment policy changes, Tom Mulcair

Tom Mulcair, the NDP Leader, thinks that Parliament needs some harassment policy changes. This may be due to the new sexual harassment allegations that are emerging from Parliament Hill which seem to happen on a frequent basis. Mulcair feels so strongly about harassment policy changes that he wrote the prime minister a letter and also addressed this to Liberal Leader Justin Trudeau. The letter stated in part that “parliamentarians have an obligation to show Canadians that we can do better.” The planned changes that Tom Mulcair has in mind will start off with a clear definition of what harassment is, so that everyone understands what is acceptable and what is considered harassment. This can help to outline a code of conduct that is formal and effective at preventing sexual harassment.

Other harassment policy changes being proposed by Tom Mulcair include having a third party officer who is independent to perform investigations, review cases, and propose remedies if sexual harassment has occurred. In addition there is a need for sensitivity training and a complaint process that is rigorous. The letter from Tom Mulcair also stated “We propose that a meeting be convened at the earliest convenience, preferably within the next week with representatives of each party and the Speaker’s office to begin the process of developing a framework for dealing with these issues.” Whether harassment policy changes actually happen still remains to be seen, but it is obvious that the status quo is not working.