OTTAWA—Saskatchewan New Democrat Erin Weir is facing an investigation after a fellow NDP MP raised concerns about his alleged harassment of women.

In an email to the NDP caucus Tuesday night, Christine Moore alleged that multiple women — including party staff — had told her Weir had harassed them.

Moore was responding to an all-caucus email sent by Weir earlier in the evening, asking MPs to support his election as caucus chair.

“There are too many women (mostly employees who have) complained to me that you were harassing to them,” Moore wrote in the email, obtained by the Star.

“As a woman I would not feel comfortable to meet with you alone. Given what’s going on right now in the political world, I think you should really not run to avoid us any trouble.”

No specific allegations have been brought against Weir, but NDP Leader Jagmeet Singh said Moore’s concerns — although he did not name her — were sufficient to call for a third-party investigation.

Singh told reporters Thursday that Weir would be suspended from his party duties, such as serving on committees and representing the party in question period, until that investigation was resolved.

In a statement, Weir denied any knowledge of the complaints.

“(Politicians) are, and should be, held to the highest possible standards, and it is absolutely right that our party has a process to investigate any allegations of harassment,” Weir wrote.

“However, I do not know what is being alleged. I am confident that I have not harassed anyone and welcome a prompt investigation to clear my name.”

Moore did not respond to multiple requests for an interview Thursday.

“It is important that we take this kind of information seriously and I have confidence in the process that is being put in place and will be participating in any way I can,” Moore wrote in a statement.

Aside from Moore’s concerns, no complainant has come forward, Singh said.

“We don’t have a survivor or someone coming forward, specifically,” Singh said at a press conference outside the House of Commons.

“We just have a concern that’s been raised by one of our members. The concern is serious enough for me to take action. And that’s why I’m taking action at this time.”

The email exchange between Weir and Moore occurred Tuesday evening. But when asked Wednesday if anyone in his caucus had done anything Singh would be ashamed of, Singh said he didn’t know.

“I don’t know, in fairness, if it’s somebody I wouldn’t know,” Singh said. “But I’m confident that we are committed to building (a) safer and safer workplace.”

Asked if Singh would ask his caucus about it, the NDP leader did not respond.

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The harassment allegations against Weir are the latest in a week that has shaken the political establishment in both Queen’s Park and on Parliament Hill. Former PC leader Patrick Brown, former PC party president Rick Dykstra, and federal Liberal cabinet minister Kent Hehr have all stepped down from their posts after news outlets published allegations of sexual harassment or assault.

Speaking to CTV’s Power Play Thursday evening, Weir said he was “surprised” to get a call from Singh about the allegations.

“It’s difficult to make sense of, let alone make respond to, an allegation without any details,” Weir said.

“I realize that Jagmeet is in a difficult position. I don’t think he knows anything more than I do about the allegation. He certainly needs to investigate any accusation of harassment, and I just hope that we have a prompt process to clear my name.”

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