NDP Leader Andrew Horwath says she is concerned about human rights complaints made by staffers against two Hamilton MPPs — but she won't boot anyone from caucus before the allegations are investigated.

"I'm not going to presuppose any outcomes," the Hamilton Centre MPP said Thursday, noting the workers who made human rights complaints are unionized and already pursuing grievances under the collective agreement. All three human rights complaints are expected to be put on hold until the union grievances are resolved or abandoned.

"I'm going to let those processes unfold ... and then I'll understand a path forward."

Constituency worker Todd White, who is also the chair of the local public school board, has filed a human rights complaint alleging bullying and discrimination by MPP Paul Miller, the NDP member for Hamilton East-Stoney Creek.

Miller noted to the Spectator on Wednesday that the allegations come as an election looms, but also stated he looks forward to resolving the complaints via "due process" and believes in "fostering a safe and supportive workplace."

The application follows human rights complaints filed against Hamilton Mountain MPP Monique Taylor by two staffers on medical leave — Sandra Troulinos and Alissa Watt. Those complaints also alleged bullying — and in particular, that the MPP pressured one worker to falsely accuse the other of sexual harassment because she gives hugs.

In a statement, Taylor said the party has offered an independent probe into the concerns.

Horwath said any allegation against MPPs related to harassment or discrimination is "absolutely" a concern for her. She added the party has been working to improve its training and policies in recognition of the growing social and political awareness of the #MeToo movement around sexual harassment.

For example, the NDP leader said MPPs and party managers have been taking part in "anti-harassment and anti-racism training" over the course of the last year, and an independent consultant was brought in to review party policies and procedures in early 2018.

Political staffers of all party stripes are increasingly going public with complaints of harassment — and when those allegations involve sexual misconduct, the politicians involved are often suspended or turfed from caucus.

New PC Leader Doug Ford — whose predecessor resigned over unproven sexual misconduct allegations — kicked Kitchener MPP Michael Harris out of caucus Monday after allegations involving sexual texts with a former intern. Harris, who has announced he will not seek re-election, has apologized for an "inappropriate" exchange.

Premier Kathleen Wynne also revealed in 2016 she had asked former Liberal MPP Kim Craitor to resign three years earlier over sexual harassment allegations levelled by a staffer. The Niagara Falls MPP denied the allegations.

Horwath herself briefly forced a top adviser, Michael Balagus, to take a leave of absence earlier this year over allegations he didn't take sexual harassment complaints seriously while working as a top political staffer in Manitoba.

The complaints against the local NDP politicians are primarily focused on allegations of discrimination over family status as well as workplace bullying. But Troulinos, who filed her human rights complaint in March, and Watt also describe being made to feel "uncomfortable" by Taylor allegedly making "explicit" sexual comments around them.

Horwath said she believes the local complaints are being handled through the right process. "We have a grievance procedure and collective agreements for a reason; it's so workers can have access to remedy if they're unhappy with something that may have happened in the workplace."

mvandongen@thespec.com

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- Human rights complaints filed against two Hamilton NDP politicians