In Canada, Whistleblowers Pay a Steep Price

Women Shouldn’t Have to Die from Sexual Misconduct

Why do some people end their lives? From the suicide of Krista Carle to the recent death of despair of a person who had been cut off CERB payments without explanation and with no way of challenging the decision, too often it is because of the actions —sometimes thoughtless but often malicious– of our most prized public agencies, like the RCMP, the military, and the institutional betrayal of government itself. That’s something that needs to change. We need to press forward to make that change. 

Many of you have contacted me recently about the challenge we all face as a society in preventing these tragedies. I’d like to hear your views. Let’s raise our voices to help save lives! You can reach me directly here. And make sure you visit our 988 campaign for Canada. CTV News anchor Lisa LaFlamme called it “three numbers that could make all the difference”.

Sexual misconduct can be fatal. A heartbreaking reminder of that reality came in July with the sudden passing of Krista Carle, a former RCMP constable who took her own life after battling the trauma of sexual harassment at the hands of Canada’s iconic police force.

 Brave women who have shown they can walk down a dark alley alone late at night to answer a call for help cannot always walk out of the dark shadows that overtake their lives when they are confronted by the monster of sexual misconduct.

It’s a measure of just how hideous sexual harassment can be, and how consequential its mishandling by organizations, that otherwise strong, brave women who have shown they can walk down a dark alley alone late at night to answer a call for help cannot always walk out of the dark shadows that overtake their lives when they are confronted by the monster of sexual misconduct. Continue reading

Kathleen Finlay’s Op-Ed (The Hill Times)

Mr. Prime Minister, Meet George Constanza

That loud beep, beep, beep you’ve been hearing is the sound of Prime Minister Justin Trudeau backing up and rolling over the #MeToo gains of the past several months—his own contributions included. Victims of sexual misconduct have especially heard the crashing of the progress that had finally given them the courage to raise their voices and seek long delayed accountability for life-altering abuses. Today, they are looking out at a world where it is suddenly not nearly as safe to come forward as they thought.  Continue reading…

Joe Biden’s ‘Good Intentions’ Don’t Excuse His Conduct

Biden’s Blunders: It’s Not About Intention. It’s About Entitlement

“I’m not sorry for anything I have ever done.”
Joseph R. Biden Jr, former vice-president of the United States, commenting on recent allegations of inappropriate physical contact.

The response is predictable. When an allegation of sexual misconduct is raised, the powerful man assures everyone that it was not his intention to cause harm. The logic, and I use that term generously, goes that since there was no ill-intent, there is no fault.

We heard that line recently in connection with allegations by former Nevada state representative Lucy Flores against Joe Biden, who was then vice-president of the United States. Ms. Flores reported that Biden approached her from behind and placed his hands on her shoulders at a 2014 political rally. He then leaned into her, smelled her hair and slowly kissed the top of her head. In a statement, Biden said it was never his intention to act inappropriately. Ms. Flores has left no doubt about how demeaned she felt by the incident. Other women have since come forward complaining about similar inappropriate physical contact by Biden. Continue reading