NDP MP Sylvain Chicoine accused of sexism in lawsuit

NDPdeputy veterans affairs critic Sylvain Chicoine demonstrated a sexist and misogynist attitude toward former staffer Fabiola Ferro, failed to deal with harassment by another staffer, and fired her without cause,Ferro alleges in a lawsuit filed Friday in Ontario Superior Court.

The suit claims damages of $194,000 and alleges Chicoine reprimanded Ferro when she complained about the alleged harassing behaviour, tried to fire her when she took the issue to the union, and then denied her references.

The lawsuit claims Chicoine contributed to a poisoned, toxic and humiliating work environment, and alleges he acted like a tyrant.

Ferro says another Chicoine staffer, David Cimon, started harassing her, but Chicoine didn't deal with the harassment and showed favouritism toward Cimon, finally firing Ferro last month.

Ferro, 34, started working for Chicoine as a parliamentary assistant in September2011, andCimonstarted harassing her a few months later, the lawsuit alleges.

Ferrosays Cimon threatened her,unfairly criticized her work and gave her additional work without the authority to do so. She alleges Cimon increasingly isolated herand that he did all of thisbecause she isa woman.

"We are alleging a number of things in our claim, but certainly the fact that we believe she was treated differentially on the basis of her sex, and that that is a violation of the Ontario Human Rights Code, is a large part of her claim,"Ferros lawyer, Andrew Lister, told CBC News.

None of the allegations have been tested in court.

In a statement, Chicoinesaid he was Ferro's employer and received a harassment complaint "by another employee."

"I took these allegations seriously because I believe that harassment has no place in a healthy work environment," he said in the statement.

"According to provisions of the collective agreement, Mrs. Ferro's allegations were immediately subject to a formal investigation, which found them to be baseless. I am confident that the courts will reach the same conclusion."

Sexist and misogynist

Ferro says in the lawsuit thatChicoine demonstrated a sexist and misogynist attitude toward her, favouring Cimon because he's a man. She alleges Cimon was allowed to arrive late and take long holidays while she was questioned over every absence and late arrival.

Ferro further alleges that Chicoineused insulting language with her.

Ferro allegesChicoinedidn't address her repeated complaints and says she finally filed a grievance with theNDPunion in April2013. Cimon filed a counter-grievance, alleging Ferro harassed him and falsely accused him.

The lawsuit alleges Chicoinefired Ferro, but not Cimon, thatmonth.

A union committee, which included a spokesman for Chicoine, looked into the matter and put Ferro on leave until it could make its decision.

The committee wrote a report in May2014 thatrejected both complaints, Ferro alleges in the lawsuit.

Fired last month

Chicoinesent her a letter in September calling her to a meeting to discuss her return to work, she says in the lawsuit. She alleges he suggested in the letter that he'd consider any refusal to be a resignation.

Ferro met in early October with the NDP's director of operations, who offered her a data entry job with a 60-day trial periodon the condition she drop the harassment complaint and renounce her right to sue Chicoine and the party, she alleges.

Ferroalleges Chicoine fired her on Oct. 21 through a letter from his lawyer to hers. Ferro's lawsuit says Chicoine alleged she'dabandonedher post, a claim she denies in the lawsuit.

NDP Leader Tom Mulcairsaid the party's union has already dealt with the complaint, which he qualified as cross-allegations between two employees.

"Other recourses are being tried right now. I'll let the courts determine whether or not anything further is going to actually happen,but frankly as a lawyer I will tell you I have my doubts," Mulcair said of the lawsuit.

"Well let a judge determine whether or not the proper authority exists for the case to move forward through the civil litigation system,"Lister said.