Stevenson wants council to look into harassment of former Housing Stability Services employee

Coun. Susan Stevenson made a social media post about a CTV workplace harassment story even though administration said not to say anything publicly.

Coun. Susan Stevenson is speaking out about a Human Rights investigation that confirmed a former employee within London’s Housing Stability Services (HSS) department was a victim of workplace harassment.

“I think that the public does want council to look into this, to provide the oversight and to rectify the situation however we can,” Stevenson tells CTV News.

Over the weekend, Stevenson posted her concerns on social media about what she referred to as “workplace harassment and the culture of silence.”

On Monday, she confirmed in an interview, “I am working with some (council) colleagues in terms of what we can bring forward to future committees to explore this further.”

Stevenson said she has been contacted by individuals since posting on X who do not wish to be identified.

She supports implementing a Whistleblower Policy at city hall, in line with some other Ontario municipalities.

“I’m all in favor of a Whistleblower Policy (at city hall), even in terms of fraud and other things that people do speak to me about,” Stevenson said.

“To think that going to your councillor or the city manager is the best course of action – I don’t think it is the best way to protect the human resources and financial assets of the city.”

CTV News has also received correspondence from current and past employees of City Hall alleging workplace harassment in other city departments and from other supervisors.

They have asked that CTV News not share information that might identify them.

Stevenson is the first member of City Council to speak to CTV News on-camera about the Human Rights investigation.

Last week, a memo was sent from City Manager Sandra Datars Bere to Council members warned them about commenting on the harassment story.

“Please note that the city’s policy is clear that all such matters are subject to confidentiality,” she said.

Her memo went on to advise, “I would respectfully ask that you refer any media enquiries to our communications department or respond with a standard statement ‘We are not in a position to comment on any personnel matter.’”

“We (council) do not answer in that direction. We answer to the public, and the public is asking for this to be addressed.”

Last week, former city employee Kate Green told her story to CTV News.

In 2024, Green filed a Human Rights complaint alleging “disrespectful behaviour, workplace harassment, and discrimination” by Director of Housing Stability Services Craig Cooper.

In June 2025, a summary of the external investigator’s report was written by the Human Rights Division at City Hall and emailed to Green.

The summary confirmed that Cooper, “engaged in workplace harassment against you by engaging in disrespectful and unprofessional behaviour that contributed to creating a negative work environment. The investigator found, therefore, that the Respondent’s conduct violated the (Respectful Workplace Anti-Harassment/Anti-Discrimination) Policy.”

Among the findings:

• “Witnesses corroborated that (Cooper) can be loud and at times rude while interrupting others and barking orders. The investigator found that this behaviour impacted employees and community representatives.”
• “Behaves aggressively, and has a loud, abrupt and demanding communication style, especially under pressure, which had a negative impact on you, and that you interpreted his behaviour as disruptive and rude.”
• “Sent you messages outside your working hours, which you experienced as boundary-crossing.”
• “Dismissive in his communication and body language during interactions and made negative comments about your colleagues.”
• “Consistently micromanaged you, and that this pattern of behaviour negatively impacted your team’s efficiency and morale.”

Three of Green’s allegations were not substantiated by the investigation, and it was also stated that Cooper behaves the same way towards both female and male colleagues.

Green was fired without cause in September, only weeks after receiving the summary of the investigation’s findings.

“The people who reported harassment are all gone now, (and) that was not a full year ago,” Green told CTV News in an interview after refusing to sign an agreement with city hall that included a non-disparagement clause.

“And all of the women who reported harassment have been pushed out in one way or another. They’ve either left because of the environment, they’ve been fired without cause, transferred, or are on leave.”

Now Stevenson wants access to the original Human Rights report written by the external investigator – a report Green said she has never seen.

“I have asked for a copy of the report that was referred to by the former employee,” Stevenson said.

“And I’ve had other people suggest that (I) request 10 years of severance payments that have been made. How many people have been let go or fired?”