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Officials in the Senate human resources department were alerted to concerns about Sen. Don Meredith's workplace behaviour as early as July 2013, HuffPost Canada has learned. At that point, Meredith had been a Conservative senator for 2 1/2 years. It took another year and a half until the Senate ordered a probe into Meredith's office in February 2015. A HuffPost Canada investigation revealed workplace harassment claims from three of Meredith's former staff that range from alleged bullying to sexual touching. "Even if I would push his hands and tell him, 'OK, enough.' He wouldn't hear it," one former aide said in an interview. She alleges the married senator would frequently make advances towards her at work. Listen to an excerpt from one of her interviews with HuffPost Canada. Her voice has been changed to protect her identity for personal and professional reasons:

Staff had approached a human resources manager in 2013 with concerns about Meredith's office, followed by more informal complaints the next year. But employees were still reluctant to register official objections over privacy worries and professional concerns. Still, the Senate's former director of human resources, Darshan Singh, felt compelled to press senators in 2014 to launch a workplace assessment into Meredith's office. In early 2015, former Senate speaker Pierre Claude Nolin also pushed for a workplace assessment, having noticed "too much turnover in that office in a short period of time," Sen. Leo Housakos told HuffPost Canada in an interview last week. Housakos said the rumblings of "dissatisfied employees" and rumours of harassment had become "too much noise" for Nolin.

Sen. Leo Housakos speaks with the media in the foyer of the Senate on Parliament Hill in Ottawa on May 26, 2015. (Photo: Adrian Wyld/The Canadian Press) Former staff, who have participated in two workplace probes, say the entire process lacks empathy and has taken way too long. "We agreed to go through the process," said the same former employee who alleges she was groped by Meredith on multiple occasions. She's frustrated that the workplace inquiry is not finished. "And three years after, what are we going to get? So I want justice to be done at every level for every[one] of us. That's it." Meredith resigned on the day of a historic vote where he was expected to be expelled — which would have been a first in the institution's 150-year history. Rules stipulate that once a senator is expelled, any inquiry pertaining to them are automatically and permanently suspended. However, the ethics committee can override that with a request to the Senate Ethics Officer to finish her work. I want justice to be done at every level for every[one] of us. That's it.Former Meredith staff member That committee ruled on June 21, 2017 that "in the consideration of the best practices respecting workplace harassment" the inquiry should continue. Here's a breakdown of how allegations of workplace harassment is handled in the Senate: Dec. 18, 2010 Don Meredith, a Jamaican-born Pentecostal minister and failed Tory byelection candidate, is appointed to the Senate by former Conservative prime minister Stephen Harper. Meredith recalls in an interview with CPAC the "moving emotional experience" of receiving the call from Harper: "[He] says, Don, it would be an honour to have you serve on the Hill with us." July 2013 Senate human resources is notified by one of Meredith's staff that they're being told by the senator to work excessive overtime hours (60+ per month) without logging the time, or being compensated for it. January 2014 The Conservative whip's office is notified about a claim that Meredith is pressuring staff to falsify expense filings. March 2014 Emails show Conservative leadership and Senate human resources is aware of staff concerns for their personal safety from working in Meredith's office. Former Senate president Noël Kinsella is also informed. Darshan Singh, former head of Senate human resources, makes a promise to notify Senate's Security Protective Services to take "special precautions" in the Victoria building — where Meredith's office is located.

The Victoria building in Ottawa. Meredith's office is the one with the drawn blinds. (Photo: Zi-Ann Lum/HuffPost Canada) Early 2015 New Senate speaker Pierre Claude Nolin notices a high turnover of staff in Meredith's office. Feb. 24, 2015 The Senate decides to hire a third-party firm in Ottawa to investigate what's happening inside Meredith's office in a workplace assessment. Feb. 16, 2015 Paramedics are called to Parliament Hill after one of Meredith's staff members suffers an anxiety attack. April 1, 2015 After contract negotiations with the third-party firm, a workplace assessment report is officially commissioned. June 17, 2015 The Toronto Star publishes a story revealing Meredith's inappropriate sexual relationship with a teenage girl. That same day, Meredith is kicked out of the Conservative party caucus. June 18, 2015 Sen. Leo Housakos writes a letter to Senate Ethics Officer Lyse Ricard requesting she conduct an inquiry to determine if Meredith and his two-year relationship with the teen violated the Senate code of ethics. July 13, 2015 The third-party workplace assessment report is completed and submitted to the Senate for review. Two days later, it's referred to the Senate Ethics Officer to assess if an inquiry is merited. Aug. 20, 2015 The Ottawa Citizen publishes a story about Meredith bringing one of his business partners on an official Senate delegation to the Caribbean. Concerns are raised Meredith used his position to boost his private business interests. Dec. 10, 2015 After a preliminary review, the Senate Ethics Officer decides that the allegations made in the workplace assessment report merit an official inquiry. Feb. 3, 2016 The Senate Ethics Office starts another second inquiry into Meredith; this one is focused on the Ottawa Citizen report and whether or not the senator breached the ethics code by inviting a business partner on a Senate-related trip. At this time, there are two active investigations focused on Meredith. June 1, 2016 Ricard wraps her preliminary review of Meredith's conduct regarding his sexual relationship with a teen. She writes a letter to both Meredith and Housakos, informing them of her intention to conduct an inquiry. There are now three active inquiries focused on Meredith.

Sen. Don Meredith sits in the Senate on Dec. 3, 2015 in Ottawa. (Photo: Adrian Wyld/The Canadian Press) March 9, 2017 The Senate Ethics Office releases its inquiry report into Meredith's relationship with a teen. The report goes to the standing committee on ethics and conflict of interest, which must recommend how the Senate should proceed with disciplinary action. March 12, 2017 Sen. André Pratte writes an email to Meredith, urging him to resign. "Although I know you must be going through a very difficult time, I am writing to plead with you to resign from the Senate as soon as possible. If you do not, I am afraid you will do yourself and, most importantly, the institution, unnecessary and lasting harm," Pratte wrote. March 16, 2017 Meredith breaks his silence a week after the release of Ricard's report. In an interview with The Canadian Press, and with his wife by his side, he apologizes for the affair, calling it a "moral failing." "As a human being, I made a grave error in judgment, in my interactions. For that I am deeply sorry," he said, adding that he doesn't feel it's justification to step down as senator. Watch: Don Meredith begs forgiveness for relationship with teen

April 30, 2017 HuffPost Canada publishes an investigation into workplace allegations, including claims of bullying and groping in the office, levelled by Meredith's former employees. May 2, 2017 The Senate ethics committee releases its recommendations report, advising that Meredith should be expelled. "No lesser sanction than expulsion would repair the harm he has done to the Senate," the report read. Listen: Ex-employee explains why he stuck with the job

May 9, 2017 Meredith resigns from the Senate right before a historic expulsion vote. In a statement, he says he's "acutely aware" the Senate as a institution is more important than his "moral failings." "After consulting with my family, community leaders, and my counsel over the past several weeks, I have decided to move forward with my life with the full support of my wife and my children. I am blessed to have had their unconditional love and support throughout this ordeal. It is my hope that my absence from the Senate will allow the senators to focus their good work on behalf of all Canadians." June 2017 Senate Ethics Officer Lyse Ricard resigns suddenly on June 18. She explained her decision was based on "sudden and unforeseen family obligations requiring her full attention for her early departure," according to Senate Speaker George Furey.

For the first time in 2017, senators have recommended to expel one of their own. (Photo: Zi-Ann Lum/HuffPost Canada) June 21, 2017 The ethics committees releases a report stating its opinion that the Senate Ethics Officer should complete the workplace harassment inquiry. The recommendations from the report "would also be relevant to all Senate authorities," the report states. July 10, 2017 Pierre Legault, a former associate deputy minister of justice, is appointed interim Senate Ethics Officer. Dec. 1, 2017 The interim Senate Ethics Officer suspends the Meredith workplace inquiry, explaining the decision was made "pending the outcome of an investigation into the same matter by another authority." A statement on the ethics officer's website read: "The Interim Senate Ethics Officer is of the view that, in this case, it is in the public interest to comply with this request in order to avoid interfering with the other authority's ongoing investigation." HuffPost Canada reported the inquiry was halted because the other authority was the Ottawa police. Dec. 8, 2017 Prime Minister Justin Trudeau nominates Legault as the next Senate Ethics Officer. "With his extensive background as a lawyer in the federal government and his most recent experience as interim Senate Ethics Officer, I trust that Mr. Legault will help maintain and increase the public trust and confidence in the Senate of Canada," said Trudeau in a release. Dec. 11, 2017 Days following his nomination, Legault is received in a Senate committee of the whole. He is asked by two senators about the Senate Ethics Office's inquiry into the Meredith workplace sexual harassment allegations. Independent Sen. Marilou McPhedran asks Legault if he will continue to finish the inquiry, despite Meredith no longer being a senator. Legault responds saying because the Senate ethics committee has signaled the inquiry should proceed, he will have to produce a report. "So I have no choice, and I would have no choice if I were to be the Senate Ethics Officer, but to complete that inquiry." Watch: The #MeToo movement comes to Canadian politics