QUESTION PERIOD — Internal Economy, Budgets and Administration
Business of Committee
March 17, 2021
Honourable senators, my question is for Senator Marwah, the chair of the Standing Senate Committee on Internal Economy, Budgets and Administration or CIBA.
Senator Marwah, my question concerns the committee’s fourth report, Senate Harassment and Violence Prevention Policy, that you presented to this chamber last month on February 16, using a procedure that does not allow for questions or debate on this new CIBA policy. By contrast, the current Senate harassment prevention policy was tabled in 2009 by then-CIBA chair, the Honourable George Furey, using a procedure that did allow for questions and debate.
Fast forward. My question is about information that surely need not be kept secret by CIBA. Are you aware of the Canadian survey of federal workplaces released in 2017 that found, of respondents who reported having experienced sexual harassment, 94% were women, and that found the ratio of men in positions of power was higher in the workplaces of respondents who experienced sexual harassment than of respondents who experienced nonsexual harassment or violence?
Senator Marwah, please tell us what Gender-Based Analysis Plus was done by CIBA when developing the new policy on which senators are prevented from asking questions or commenting.
Thank you, senator, for that question. I’ll start with a comment that Senator Gold sometimes uses: I do not accept the premise of your question. In this particular case, the first half of your statement.
I’ll address your specific question, which is “What was I aware of?” I’m not aware of the specific analysis that was done. That question is best addressed to the CIBA Subcommittee on Human Resources that handled the development of the new policy. What I do know, senator, is that there was extensive consultation with senators, employee representatives, private sector practitioners and academics specializing in the fields of workplace harassment. Based on all of that, I think the new policy is a big step forward and a big improvement on the previous policy.
Senator Marwah, how many complaints of harassment in the Senate are currently under way in CIBA, including senator to senator, staffer or volunteer to senator, and staffer to senator? Of course, we don’t need any identifying information. This is just about the number of cases currently under way.
Thank you again, senator, for that question. I’ve been asked this question before, and I must tell you I am not aware of any specific details — of either the number of cases or the names of persons — involved in any harassment cases. Those items are confidential and are kept from me. The only times I have been made aware of complaints are when a senator has told me about a complaint. Barring those instances, I am not aware of any complaints. That’s handled by HR and the law clerk, not me. They do not bring those to my attention. It is strictly confidential.
