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The company said it was trying to identify the figures in the video, and that it would ban them from all MLSE facilities.

In the same release that announced the firing of one of its employees, Hydro One spokesman Daffyd Roderick said “respect for all people is engrained in the code and our values. We are committed to a work environment where discrimination or harassment of any type is met with zero tolerance.”

Wilfrid Laurier University issued a statement that twice mentioned its commitment to fight “gendered violence” when it was informed that one of the participants was an alumnus.

The university “strongly condemns the extremely offensive and discriminatory comments made to a female television reporter,” it wrote.

Massachusetts-based Cognex Corporation responded similarly when informed that one of their Canadian employees was among the group.

“While the individual was attending the event on his own time and was not at a Cognex activity, the views expressed are totally inconsistent with Cognex’s values, and we find such comments reprehensible,” wrote their director of communications.

The Toronto Police, in turn, have said that criminal charges are not out of the question.

Spokeswoman Meaghan Gray said they have been aware of the “FHRITP” phenomenon for a while, but that reporters have not filed complaints. Gray said that, depending on the case, grounds could exist for criminal charges.

“You could be looking at various types of criminal charges, whether that be mischief, or causing a disturbance, or breaching the peace, or sexual harassment,” she said.

Brenda Cossman, a professor of law at University of Toronto, said the incident could fall under criminal harassment, specifically under a section that covers engaging in threatening conduct.

In this situation, however, she advised against criminal charges.

“If criminal charges are brought again them, they would become martyrs in a way. They would become martyrs to freedom of expression,” she said.

National Post, with files from Tristin Hopper