Chair, Minister, respond, too
GATINEAU – After former Ontario CRTC commissioner Raj Shoan filed a new judicial review application last week which alleges institutional bigotry and many other workplace issues within the Commission as part of the reasons why his firing should be reversed, those directly affected by his statements have responded.
In his legal documents filed with the Federal Court last week, which we reported on here, Shoan filed a copy of a letter he sent to Heritage Minister Melanie Joly on June 14th (before his appointment was rescinded). That letter detailed a number of offensive statements which Shoan says other CRTC employees attributed to Alberta and NWT commissioner Linda Vennard.
In her own emailed statement circulated to media, Vennard strongly disputes Shoan’s account.
“I would like to point out and remind people that the offensive comments Mr. Shoan alleges I made are completely unsubstantiated allegations only. I hold my colleagues in the highest regard, and in particular Commissioner Candice Molnar – one of the most dedicated and knowledgeable people I have ever worked with and whom I admire and respect in every way. The offensive racist comments Mr. Shoan alleges I made are more unsubstantiated allegations not to be believed,” wrote Vennard.
“These unsubstantiated offensive comments Mr. Shoan alleges I made are just malicious and hurtful to all of us and serve no purpose other than his own.’’
On Friday, after Cartt.ca and other media outlets reported on Shoan’s latest legal battle, something which is surely a large distraction for staffers, CRTC chairman Jean-Pierre Blais circulated the following memo to staff.
“I am aware that the allegations reported lately by the media regarding certain CRTC Commissioners and staff represent a distraction for all of us. The CRTC’s credibility is being questioned and I will not shy away from saying that our organization is going through a difficult time. However, I know that I can count on your professionalism to continue your exceptional and essential work for Canadians,” he wrote.
“You know that as public servants we uphold the public’s trust. As stated in the Values and Ethics Code for the Public Sector and the CRTC’s Code of conduct, our organization promotes a healthy and harassment-free workplace. That is why I invite you to raise with your manager any issue that may constitute harassment.
“…Since the beginning of my mandate, the executive team and I have worked continually on employee well-being. I can assure you that our objective remains unchanged because employees are our organization’s greatest resource.”
Heritage Minister Joly also responded to the reports with a short statement of her own, saying:
“I have complete confidence in the Commission and its staff in carrying out their statutory functions. I also want to underline my full respect for the legal process whereby Mr. Shoan has exercised his legal rights with respect to the decision to terminate his appointment. As such, it would be inappropriate for parties to comment further while the matter is before the courts.”
