Former Alberta Legislature Staff Member Alleges Sexual Harassment in Lawsuit Against Prime Minister’s Office

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A former high-ranking member of the Alberta legislature is suing the prime minister’s office, saying she was unfairly fired after speaking out about a toxic work environment, including alleged sexual harassment.

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In a claim statement, Ariella Kimmel alleges that ministers and staff in the legislature’s offices drink excessively, that she was subjected to a “poisoned work environment” and that senior officials spread rumors about her that contributed to her losing. his work.

None of the accusations have been proven in court.

Kimmel worked as chief of staff to the Minister of Labor, Economy and Innovation from August 2020 until she was fired in February 2021. Before that, she worked for the government on a contract basis from May 2019.

Prime Minister Jason Kenney’s office oversees the ministries. Kenney is not listed in the lawsuit.

The lawsuit seeks more than $ 199,000 for breach of contract to make up for lost wages and an additional $ 200,000 in damages.

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The statement alleges that at a meeting in the office of Agriculture and Forestry Minister Devin Dreeshen in late October 2020, Kimmel expressed concern about his level of intoxication and urged him to stop drinking. The statement alleges that after they left the meeting, Dreeshen “angrily confronted” Kimmel to the point where she was crying and a passerby intervened. “The plaintiff was shocked and scared during this encounter,” the statement said.

Before working as chief of staff, Kimmel had an “on and off romantic” relationship with Dreeshen, the document says.

In another incident in which staff were drinking in the office of then-health minister Tyler Shandro, the statement alleges that Ivan Bernardo, a top secretary in the Kenney government, made a sexually inappropriate comment to one of Kimmel’s employees.

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“Sir. Bernardo looked at the woman’s body and said: ‘I had not seen you on this floor before because with a body like that, I would have noticed you,'” the statement alleges, adding that the employee was very upset by the humiliation and sexually degrading comment.

Bernardo left work in December 2020.

The document alleges that while numerous ministers were aware of the complaints, which were also brought up to various staff members of the prime minister’s office, the prime minister’s office took no action.

The claim statement also said that senior staff in Kenney’s office fabricated rumors about Kimmel, including the fact that he had improperly leaked information to the media.

“These false and malicious rumors cost the plaintiff a number of job opportunities and negatively affected her ability to re-employ,” the document says.

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Children’s Services Minister Rebecca Schulz said in a statement Wednesday that after learning of the allegations, she met with Kimmel.

“Sexual harassment is completely unacceptable and disgusting,” he said, adding that after the meeting, he spoke with Government House leader Jason Nixon.

Nixon also released a statement Wednesday, saying he was approached about “troubling rumors” related to Bernardo’s behavior.

“After speaking with Minister Schulz, I immediately contacted the then prime minister’s chief of staff and human resources to inform them of the rumors I had heard and they said they were being resolved,” he said.

Bernardo responded with a statement to Postmedia noting that the matter is now before the courts.

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“It would be inappropriate for me to comment in any way on the statements made within or related to the claim, as I will likely be called as a witness in any proceeding,” he said.

Pam Livingston, the prime minister’s chief of staff, said in a statement to Postmedia on Wednesday that the government has zero tolerance for harassment, and any government employee who believes they have witnessed or been subjected to harassment is strongly encouraged to come forward so action can be taken. taken.

It added that it could not comment on the specifics of the confidential human resources matters, but the decision to terminate Kimmel’s employment was not related to the matters contained in the claim statement.

“The government will fully respond to allegations in court as appropriate and required,” Livingston said, noting that all government employees must receive respectful job training, and the government will initiate an independent review of human resource policies for the political staff.

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Kenney responded during the question period in the legislature to questions about the measures the government was taking, noting that his chief of staff informed him “in the late fall” of the rumors.

“They assured me that this matter was being taken very seriously and that the individual would no longer be working for the government. In fact, his contract ended shortly after, ”Kenney said.

Former Cabinet and UCP MLA Minister Leela Aheer spoke in response to the allegations Wednesday, applauding Kimmel’s courage and calling again for Kenney’s resignation.

“The responsibility rests on the head and shoulders of leadership to deal with and make sure the person who is being hurt is protected. That is the failure here, of leadership and human decency, ”he told reporters in the legislature on Wednesday, adding that he believed it was not a political or party problem.

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When asked if he would leave the UCP because of his concerns about Kenney’s leadership, Aheer said he has a responsibility to stay and help enact changes within the party.

“Why does a woman always have to go? Why do I have to resign? “

The prime minister’s office did not immediately respond to a request for comment on Aheer’s calls for Kenney to resign. Postmedia also contacted Dreeshen’s office, but did not immediately receive a response.

Kimmel’s attorney, Kathryn Marshall, told Postmedia on Wednesday that she could not discuss the details of the claim, but that the case is a prime example of a broader problem of inappropriate conduct in political office across the country.

“I think this case is going to be important and it will set a precedent for how political officials should treat staff and how whistleblowers, when it comes to sexual harassment, and whistleblowers should also be treated, because everyone deserves a healthy and healthy life. safe. work environment, ”Marshall said.

The NDP’s opposition critic of the status of women, Janis Irwin, told reporters on Wednesday that sexual harassment and harassment in the workplace are completely unacceptable, adding that the government did not appear to follow a process of independent investigation to protect whistleblowers, and the prime minister appears to have failed to act.

– With files from Ashley Joannou

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