OTTAWA— Three former Green party employees who accused Elizabeth May of workplace bullying are demanding a “truly independent” investigation of their allegations, stating in a joint letter that they have no confidence in the process launched by the party last month.

Rob Rainer, Diana Nunes and Vanessa Brustolin wrote to Green Party President Ken Melamed on Saturday to raise concerns and demand changes to the probe before they agree to participate in the investigation.

The employees said May’s involvement in the decision to hire Toronto lawyer Sheila Block to investigate her own alleged behaviour represents “an obvious conflict of interest.” They want the party to use a “transparent and conflict-free process” to find an investigator who has experience with workplace bullying cases.

They also want to make sure other current and former party operatives can submit statements or be interviewed as part of the investigation, and are asking the party to respond to their concerns by Thursday.

“We remain fully prepared to participate in a truly independent investigation conducted by an individual possessing the requisite expertise and mandate,” the former staff wrote.

“Indeed, we enthusiastically welcome such an investigation.”

Green Party Executive Director Emily McMillan said in an email Monday that May did not choose Block to conduct the investigation. She said Block was retained because of “outside advice,” and that it is normal for employers to select investigators without consulting complainants.

McMillan said the investigation is currently limited to the three former employees who have publicly accused May of bullying, but that the party will consider broadening its scope to “anyone who wishes to be included.”

The probe will proceed even if the staffers decide not to participate, she said.

In response to the accusers’ concerns about Block’s experience, McMillan said: “Have you Googled Ms. Block? She is highly regarded and her CV is available on her website. I trust that I do not need to dig that out for you.”

The website describes Block as a “senior trial and appellate counsel with a broad civil litigation practice,” who is the chair of her law firm’s litigation and dispute resolution practice. Her webpage also shows numerous professional awards and a long list of experience in high-profile legal cases.

The former staffers wrote that they acknowledge Block is “a highly respected lawyer,” but that they still don’t know whether she has experience investigating workplace bullying allegations.

Block declined to comment Monday about the group’s concerns.

In interviews with the Star last month, the former staffers accused the longtime Green leader of creating a toxic work environment with behaviour that allegedly includes yelling at employees and putting them down in front of colleagues.

Rainer, who was the party’s interim executive director in 2014, also accused the party of failing to address and prevent May’s alleged “verbal and emotional” abuse of staff.

May has flatly denied the allegations and rejected being characterized as a bully, describing herself as generous and supportive of party workers. The Green party has also dismissed the accusations as “simply the statements of disgruntled employees” and said that May is being held to a different standard because she is a woman.

May announced on Jan. 29 that the party had hired Block to investigate the allegations of the three former staffers who spoke with the Star. She said at the time that she insisted to the party that an investigation was necessary to “put this matter to bed,” and that she had spoken with Block that morning.

In the following days, the three former employees wrote a series of questions to Block and the party seeking clarity on Block’s background, why she was selected, and how the investigation would work.

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Melamed, the party president, responded on Feb. 2 — in an email that was obtained by the Star — and told the accusers that May took part in the decision to hire Block and that she had called the lawyer to discuss the “process and costs” of the investigation.

In her statement to the Star Monday, however, McMillan said that May’s contact with Block was only to tell her when McMillan would be available to discuss the investigation.

The party has said the investigation will take two to four weeks, and has pledged to publicly release Block’s findings.

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