Former fisheries minister Hunter Tootoo is out of a treatment centre for alcohol addiction, but he remains banned from the Liberal caucus and refuses to address accusations that he had an inappropriate relationship with a junior female staff member.
Sources told The Globe and Mail that the Prime Minister’s Office became alarmed in late May when informed that Mr. Tootoo allegedly had a relationship with a staffer that it judged to be inappropriate.
This improper sexual relationship, along with Mr. Tootoo’s drinking, led to his resignation from cabinet and ouster from the Liberal caucus, sources say.
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has a zero-tolerance policy for sexual misconduct and harassment of women. While in opposition, Mr. Trudeau kicked MPs Scott Andrews and Massimo Pacetti out of caucus after allegations of inappropriate sexual behaviour surfaced.
The Prime Minister’s Office issued a blunt statement on Wednesday, saying Mr. Tootoo would not be allowed back into the Liberal caucus.
“We wish Mr. Tootoo well as he resumes his parliamentary functions as MP for Nunavut,” Mr. Trudeau’s office said.
“His status with regard to the Liberal caucus remains unchanged.”
Sources say Mr. Trudeau will not discuss Mr. Tootoo’s alleged improper behaviour to protect the identity of the woman involved.
In a telephone interview with The Globe and Mail on Wednesday, Mr. Tootoo was asked if a specific incident led him to seek help for alcohol abuse.
“It’s been a difficult journey,” he said. “There’s deeply personal and private issues that have haunted me. And I just saw myself going down a road I didn’t want to go on, and I knew I needed to be healthy again, and that’s why I chose to seek help and go to treatment.”
Mr. Tootoo was asked five times whether he had an inappropriate relationship with a female staffer.
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Sex allegations led to Tootoo’s ouster from Liberal caucus - The Globe and Mail
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Sources told The Globe and Mail that the Prime Minister’s Office became alarmed in late May when informed that Mr. Tootoo allegedly had a relationship with a staffer that it judged to be inappropriate.
This improper sexual relationship, along with Mr. Tootoo’s drinking, led to his resignation from cabinet and ouster from the Liberal caucus, sources say.
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has a zero-tolerance policy for sexual misconduct and harassment of women. While in opposition, Mr. Trudeau kicked MPs Scott Andrews and Massimo Pacetti out of caucus after allegations of inappropriate sexual behaviour surfaced.
The Prime Minister’s Office issued a blunt statement on Wednesday, saying Mr. Tootoo would not be allowed back into the Liberal caucus.
“We wish Mr. Tootoo well as he resumes his parliamentary functions as MP for Nunavut,” Mr. Trudeau’s office said.
“His status with regard to the Liberal caucus remains unchanged.”
Sources say Mr. Trudeau will not discuss Mr. Tootoo’s alleged improper behaviour to protect the identity of the woman involved.
In a telephone interview with The Globe and Mail on Wednesday, Mr. Tootoo was asked if a specific incident led him to seek help for alcohol abuse.
“It’s been a difficult journey,” he said. “There’s deeply personal and private issues that have haunted me. And I just saw myself going down a road I didn’t want to go on, and I knew I needed to be healthy again, and that’s why I chose to seek help and go to treatment.”
Mr. Tootoo was asked five times whether he had an inappropriate relationship with a female staffer.
more shiny
Sex allegations led to Tootoo’s ouster from Liberal caucus - The Globe and Mail
Todd Banks @Banks_Todd
Todd Banks Retweeted NEWS 95.7 Halifax
No tweets of encouragement from fellow @liberal_party drunks @SeamusORegan and @HonJohnMcCallum. Dig for the story.