OTTAWA—Prime Minister Justin Trudeau admits that he and other politicians are wrestling with how best to deal with complaints of sexual harassment and abuse in party ranks.

Trudeau was asked Tuesday why Calgary MP Kent Hehr, who resigned his post as sports minister last week after a complaint about inappropriate comments during his time in Alberta politics. Yet he’s been allowed to remain in the Liberal caucus while other MPs, such as Darshan Kang, have left caucus for alleged infractions.

“I don't have a rule book that's been handed down to me from Wilfrid Laurier as leader of the Liberal party on how to handle these situations,” Trudeau said, referring to the political figure who was prime minister more than a century ago.

“We are doing the best that we can on a case-by-case basis, starting from a place of respect, of support, of belief and understanding that we do have to have fair process as we move forward,” he said.

“Every case will be different, but we need to make sure that we're doing right in every given situation,” the prime minister said.

Labour Minister Patty Hajdu warned Monday that there is a “crisis” of harassment on Parliament Hill, a place she said is “ripe” for abuse by power imbalances that leave young women vulnerable to harassment and powerless to complain.

But Trudeau said that it is “essential” to believe anyone who comes forward with allegations of harassment or assault, calling that a “significant” change in how society deals with the issue.

“We obviously need a process that flows from there . . . but the first instinct and the first place to be needs to be supporting and believing,” he said.

Employment Minister Patty Hajdu opened debate Monday in the House on legislation aiming to make federal workplaces, including Parliament Hill, safer from bullying and sexual misconduct. Hajdu says the proposed changes are “overdue.” (The Canadian Press)

After the revelations of misconduct in recent days that have forced out Progressive Conservative Leader Patrick Brown and the party’s executive director, and an investigation into Hehr’s behaviour, Ottawa is bracing for yet more.

That sentiment was fuelled by Warren Kinsella, a political commentator, who suggested in a blog post this week that more damning revelations of political misconduct are likely to come, including one involving a “very, very powerful” man.

“The stories have been known about him for three years. They are in affidavits, plural. His name will shock you,” Kinsella wrote.

Trudeau said Tuesday that he had no idea who that person might be.

The prime minister was asked whether he had reflected on his own past and was confident that his gestures and comments “passed the test.”

The prime minister didn’t answer the question directly but instead suggested that his volunteer work with a sexual assault centre during his time at McGill University gave him greater awareness of the issues.

During that period, Trudeau said he “led” discussions with fraternities, sororities, residences and other campus groups on topics such as consent, power dynamics and date rape.

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“Those reflections continue for all of us,” he said.

“But I am deeply pleased that after so much time, not just in my life, but in all of our lives, we have reached a point where the conversations being had in workplaces . . . are leading to reflection and learning,” he said.

In a later interview with CBC News, Trudeau said he was sure that his behaviour has always respectful. “I've been very, very careful all my life to be thoughtful, to be respectful of people's space and people's headspace as well,” he said in the interview.

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