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A “long-time” employee of one of Ontario’s largest public sector unions has been fired over sexual assault allegations.

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Donald Ford, 51, has been charged with 12 counts of sexual assault police allege took place at the Ontario Public Service Employees Union (OPSEU) head office in North York. So far, police say they have identified three victims, but believe there may be more.

The alleged offences “all occurred within that building,” said police spokesperson Jenifferjit Sidhu. “We believe there are multiple victims” who have yet to come forward, she said, and that the search is “bigger than” just the OPSEU offices.

In a statement, OPSEU president Warren “Smokey” Thomas confirms “was a long-term employee in the Communications Division.”

“We first learned of allegations of inappropriate conduct by Mr. Ford in late spring of this year,” Thomas said. “At that time, Mr. Ford was immediately removed from the workplace and suspended. His employment with OPSEU has since been terminated following an internal investigation.”