When the head of Canada's premier human rights adjudication agency is accused of "creating a workplace that had deteriorated to the point of toxicity" Government took quick affirmative action as reported in the Ottawa Citizen "Harassment complaints upheld against human rights tribunal head" as follows:
"...Harassment complaints are typically directed to the heads of ministries or agencies, but given the unusual — likely unique — situation of the head of the tribunal being the subject of the complaint, an independent outsider had to be found to adjudicate..."
Why wasn't this process followed by the Government of Manitoba regarding complaints, first against CSC Commissioner and its Director, and then the heads of MLB and MHRC, and subsequently with the Ombudsman's Office? It really is sad when leaders get caught up in a series of events where one inappropriate and criminal act leads to another, and another, in a domino effect. Even sadder is that at any time the Ombudsman could have stopped the madness by doing her job and advising all parties to accept the consequences of his or her prior mistakes; to learn from it and then move on and be better for it. "A public office is a public trust." When someone breaks that trust, there needs to be accountability.
"Character is much easier kept than recovered." Thomas Paine
MB Government did not take the higher road and has responded by covering for its heads of institutions in ways far greater than the original wrongdoing. The cost in defending its actions (legal costs denied by Ombudsman), the amount of work and stress by all parties including private counsel Thompson Dorfman Sweatman (see Law at Lunch - More Cowbell) in fabricating and maintaining a lie, is rarely ever easier than accepting the consequences of the truth. The Provincial Government has had a tremendously ridiculous time in keeping its story straight, to the point of embarrassment. Government could have nipped it in the bud at the source where it all began at the Civil Service Commission (CSC) with an apology.
"... If this was a lower level manager, the head of the institution would have the authority to take specific measures: That person could be sent for sensitivity training or moved to a different position or fired. But how do you appropriately deal with harassment charges against heads of institutions?”
Bravo for the Conservative Federal Government, perhaps after learning from past mistakes of trying to cover up for bad behaviour. (See Whistleblower Rulings Hurt Canada's Reputation.)
In answer to the question: How do you appropriately deal with harassment charges against heads of institutions? In the end it would seem that the Manitoba Government is rewarding Ombudsman Irene Hamilton by creating a new position for her. Her newly created high-paying position is to focus on helping Manitoba Justice speed up its court processes. Quite ironic based on her past record of procrastination in violation of legislated time limits to address issues brought before her. Complaints before the Ombudsman are to be responded to in writing, and when accepted for investigation, addressed within 90 days.
Complaints against the MHRC--much more serious than what occurred at the Federal level (referred to herein)--was filed on and accepted for investigation on October 2010,. No response (by phone or in writing) has been the response from the Ombudsman and in violation of her mandate--there has been no final report or recommendation. See related posting: MB Ombudsman buries report...)
In fact, many matters filed with the Ombudsman's office have been stonewalled indefinitely without a letter of explanation. Much of what goes on with politics occurs behind the scenes. What we get to see is only the affirmation of what has occurred in secret: this we get delivered to us in a prepackaged media release.
There ought to be a note of caution with these articles i.e.
"Has been in contact with Government and may not contain adequate amounts of truth: accountability and transparency".
As long as Manitobans do not speak out, what we are essentially saying is that we have different standards set for our leaders in government, or worst yet, no expectations. Given the lack of voter turnout at the last provincial election, it would seem that through nature or nurture, we have become quite an apathetic group.
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