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“I sat across a table from Mr. Stoffer and, it’s been a while, you know, but I just precisely remember him leaning over the table and planting a big kiss on me, just out of nowhere … on the mouth,” she said.

Stephanie, who asked her last name not be published for professional reasons, said she was 18 at the time, had never had a boyfriend before and the sudden move took her by surprise.

As a young person, when you’re going to a bar with MPs, you trust them and you kind of expect respect from someone that’s been elected

“I just remember kind of going into shock and going like, ‘okay, I’m uncomfortable. I’m leaving,’” she said.

She said about a year later, she decided to contact current pages to warn them about Stoffer’s behaviour and ask if anyone else had had similar experiences. A lawyer had told her that if more complainants came forward there might be grounds for a Canadian Human Rights Tribunal complaint, she said.

Her emails to pages ultimately reached a member of the House of Commons administration, who contacted her. She said they reacted “very dismissively.” In emails she shared with the Post, a deputy clerk said no incidents had been brought forward to or witnessed by page supervisors.

She said she was asked for “specific facts” as evidence to back up her allegations. “I had no proof. I felt intimidated and embarrassed,” she said.

“As a young person, when you’re going to a bar with MPs, you trust them and you kind of expect respect from someone that’s been elected,” she said. “You’re impressionable, right? You can be kind of in awe of these people. It’s just sad that someone can come off friendly but then use that to get too close.”