Sheila Copps speaks out on sexual assault

(Updated)

Local MP’s and the premier are reacting after shocking revelations surfaced from former Hamilton MP and deputy premier, Sheila Copps.

Copps is adding her voice to the growing number of women coming forward to talk about sexual violence and harassment — saying she was raped years ago by a boyfriend and sexually assaulted by a fellow MPP in Ontario’s legislature —In a column for The Hill Times.

The revelations by Sheila Copps have added another layer to a scandal that broke on Parliament Hill. But while both Ottawa and Queen’s Park are suddenly scrambling to deal with sexual harassment in the workplace, some are asking why the issue hasn’t been dealt with before.

Hamilton Mountain MP Chris Charlton is shaking her head in disbelief: “We find ourselves in a place that, just a week ago, after the shootings, we called the heart of Canadian democracy. And in that workplace, we don’t know how to deal with an issue like harassment.”

It’s as if Canada’s Parliamentarians were caught totally by surprise. As though there had never been a case of harassment on the Hill before.

But NDP MP for Hamilton Centre Dave Christopherson says, what’s new in this situation, is the public nature of the complaints: “Parliament Hill is like any other workplace. And a lot of these things are just dealt with quietly. Behind the scenes, often inadequately. Many times to no one’s satisfaction.”

When members of Christopherson’s NDP party went to Justin Trudeau with allegations of impropriety by two Liberal Mp’s, there was no going back. No “dealing with the issue quietly”. The problem was — there was no way to deal with it publicly.

“It’s a shame that we’ve realized after the fact that we don’t have a process, because we’re in a heck of a spot.”

And it appears that this may be only the beginning:

Wayne Marston is the NDP MP for Hamilton East-Stoney Creek: “We won’t know the severity of the problem in parliament unless more people come forward if there’s more time.”

One former parliamentarian who did come forward, was former Liberal deputy prime minister Sheila Copps. Saying not that she’d been harassed on Parliament Hill — but rather as an MPP at Queen’s Park. Suddenly widening the scope of the conversation.

Premier Kathleen Wynne: “The house leaders at this point are talking about whether a select committee would be something that we would want move forward with. This is not a new issue, this is not something that is new in Ontario or the country. What we’re dealing with right is that people are coming forward and that is a very good thing.”

Dave Christopherson: “Good for Sheila for stepping forward and continuing to play a leadership role on these very, very difficult issues.”

And while Chris Charlton agrees, that it’s a good thing for Canadians to talking about it — she thinks the focus of the current conversation may be a little off target: “Why is it that some people still think to make comments, to touch in appropriate ways. How can that be?”

One other issue that seems to be troubling MP’s is how to retroactively deal with allegations, under a protocol that hasn’t even been established yet. And how to ensure that any evidence in the investigation is managed and presented fairly. After all says Wayne Marston, in Canada, you are innocent until proven guilty, no matter how controversial, or reprehensible the charges may be.

More from the Hill Times article:

Copps says in her early political career, at the age of 28 when she was representing Hamilton East at Queen’s Park, she was sexually assaulted by another member of provincial parliament. At the time, they were on a committee studying violence against women.

When they were about to leave an elevator in a hotel in Northern Ontario, the MPP tried to force Copps up against the wall and tried to kiss her.

Copps also wrote in the column about being raped more than 30 years ago by someone she knew. She says she went to police, who told her a conviction was impossible. She says police merely paid a visit to the man responsible warning him to keep his distance.

Copps has also faced some criticism in recent weeks after defending Jian Ghomeshi on Twitter. She apologized in today’s column for rushing to Ghomeshi’s defence, saying “I should never have weighed on an issue as sensitive as that without taking the time to hear the other side of the story.”

“Obviously, the CBC believed it had sufficient evidence to terminate the contract of an iconic superstar.”

CHCH News has tried reaching out to Sheila Copps but has not heard back.

Image: sheilacopps.ca