Notley calls for UCP to turf house leader over handling of a harassment case

Premier wants UCP house leader to resign Rachel Notley says that Jason Nixon, the UCP house leader, needs to resign for his actions before getting into office. Jaclyn Brown reports.

Premier Rachel Notley has taken aim at the United Conservative Party over the conduct of its house leader Jason Nixon, who once fired an employee for complaining about sexual harassment.

Nixon has been fighting against the NDP’s Bill 30, a piece of legislation aimed at protecting employees from workplace harassment.

It’s since been revealed that he once terminated a worker at a firm he owned before he entered politics two days after she alleged sexual harassment while on the job.

The Premier says that if Nixon was in her caucus, he would be kicked out.

“Mr. Nixon’s response when someone spoke up was to fire her. That is not the right response.”

Nixon says that the decision to fire the worker at that time was an error.

“Us as an organization, we failed Ms. Harrison at that time. We should have done a better job of defending her.”

Meanwhile, UCP leader Jason Kenney is still standing behind Nixon, saying that it’s unfortunate to see attacks on his personal integrity.

Critics say that Nixon’s failure to mention his personal experience with the sexual harassment issue was a mistake.

The controversy comes just a day before a criticial byelection in Alberta, but not many believe it will have a dramatic impact on the outcome.

Voter turnout at the advance polling stations has been higher than usual, but that could also be because three party leaders, Jason Kenney of the UCP, David Khan of the Liberal Party and Romy Tittel for the Green Party, are all in the running.