The Ontario Public Service Employees Union (OPSEU) is accusing Canadore College of engaging in an “attempted cover up” after the school announced it would not release a report looking into allegations of harassment and discrimination at the post-secondary institution.

A statement released late Wednesday afternoon by OPSEU president Warren (Smokey) Thomas also calls on the ministries of Colleges and Universities and Labour to intervene.

The college recently received a report from Jane Richardson of EJR Workplace Consultants Ltd., who Canadore retained after allegations of sex discrimination were unearthed in February 2019 when a former employee, represented by Toronto lawyer Gillian Hnatiw, made an application to the Human Rights Tribunal of Ontario.

Thomas penned a letter last week to the board demanding a copy of the report once delivered.

Canadore College president and CEO George Burton, however, was non-committal when asked if the union would receive it.

The college has since announced it would not release the report publicly.

“Instead of releasing the report, or even the recommendations themselves, the college chose to release a brief statement that appears to diminish the significance of the investigation,” Thomas said.

“The college disclosed today that many of the experiences identified were historic in nature, involved a consensual, intimate relationship between employees, and that there was ‘no merit’ to claims of a sexual predator on campus.

“In contrast, dozens of union members who were involved in the investigation reported that their allegations concerned patterns of bullying, harassment and cover-ups that were condoned or fueled by senior managers.”

Thomas stated previously that more than 50 members of OPSEU offered testimony to the investigator.

The union president is now calling for Burton, as well as Shawn Chorney, Canadore’s vice-president of enrolment management, Indigenous and student services, to be placed on administrative leave while the provincial ministries ensure the report is disclosed to the appropriate parties, including the union, and the allegations of a “poisoned work environment” are fully addressed.

Thomas also suggests that up to seven board members have resigned over the college’s handling of the investigation and that it may no longer be in compliance with provincial legislation.

“It is of great concern that the president of the college at first said that the investigation report may have been disclosed to senior managers who were the subject of the investigation. Employees who participated in the investigation were assured that their concerns would not be disclosed. Now, their confidential information may have been shared with those who are accused,” he said.

“This is a shocking breach of trust and fairness. How can they now feel safe and protected by the college?”