Canadore won’t be publicly releasing a report on the workplace culture at the college.

In a statement, they say that’s normal with this type of report.

They also say they won’t be commenting on the specifics of the report, saying it’s consistent with the investigators recommendation.

The college does say that there was absolutely no suggestion from any of the people who came forward that there was a sexual predator threatening persons at the college, or that there was any individual on campus who posed a threat to the safety of any employees.

Canadore says 60 people took part in the process, including 45 current employees.

They say none of the participants indicated to the investigator that they wanted to move forward with a formal complaint.

OPSEU had asked for a copy of the report.

On Wednesday, the union called for the Ministry of Colleges and Universities and the Ministry of Labour to intervene.

 

(File photo above by station staff)

 

The full statement is below:

Last year, a Human Rights Application was filed by a former employee regarding the workplace at Canadore. Some of the allegations in that application became public and created concerns related to the work environment at the College.The College takes these issues very seriously and, as a result, engaged a third party investigator to ensure that all members of the Canadore community had the opportunity to make their voices heard and to help the College determine how best to address any issues that arose. We thank those who chose to participate.

The investigator submitted her report on February 14, 2020 and, since then, the executive committee of the Board of Governors and the Board have reviewed it.
It is not the College’s intention to release the report. In an investigation like this, it is normative that the report not be released publicly. The investigator cautioned the College about releasing the report due to its nature. This is for a number of reasons :
– The purpose of the exercise was to gain an understanding of employees, perceptions of any issues that were impacting on the work environment. It was not a fact finding exercise. The investigator did not investigate those issues or in any way seek to validate the information that was shared;
– It is essential to continue to respect the privacy of those who participated, as most of the individuals who came forward chose to remain anonymous;
– It is also important to respect the due process rights of both the complainants and other parties; and
– To not deter or inhibit any potential remedial steps.

The College will also not be commenting on the specifics of the Report. This is consistent with the recommendation of the investigator. Most of the individuals who came forward to the investigator chose to remain anonymous, which was permitted to ensure people felt comfortable in raising their concerns. Their anonymity was respected by the investigator and we don’t wish to do anything that would threaten that confidentiality.
Some information can be provided;
– Approximately 60 people participated in the process; 45 of those participants were current employees. We have approximately 700 active employees at the College.
– There was absolutely no suggestion from any of the persons who came forward that there was a sexual predator threatening persons at the College, or that there was any individual on campus who posed a threat to the safety of any of our employees. There was no merit to these claims.
– There was an intimate relationship between two employees, which was raised as a concern by some of the persons who came forward. However, this relationship was entirely consensual in nature, and these individuals are now married and have been for many years. Accordingly, to the extent that a few individuals raised concerns about the propriety of this relationship, those allegations deal with historical events.
– None of the participants indicated to the investigator that they wished to move forward with a formal complaint that could be investigated and acted upon.

Now that the process has been completed and the Report has been received by the Board, it is Canadore’s goal to continue to move forward and ensure that our College Community is a place where employees feel free to raise their concerns openly.
Despite the fact that none of the participants wished to pursue a formal complaint, we think it is important to remind our employees that there is an avenue available for participants to engage in a formal investigation of their issues if they wish that to occur. Those employees who participated and wish to identify themselves and wish to file formal complaints in accordance with our policies will be given the opportunity to do so.
Canadore has policies in place that are intended to assist in establishing an environment of respect and collegiality; the Respectful College Community Policy and the Safe College Community Policy are examples. We remind the Canadore community that these policies identify for students and employees how to address any issues that arise.

OPSEU statement

OPSEU calls for the Ministry of Colleges and Universities and the Ministry of Labour to intervene at Canadore College in the wake of what the union calls “an attempted cover-up” of the independent investigation report. The union says Instead of releasing the report, or even the recommendations themselves, the College chose to release a brief statement that appears to diminish the significance of the investigation.

OPSEU says they’ve been advised that up to seven members of the college Board of Governors have resigned over the handling of this investigation.

The union is calling for President George Burton and Vice-President Shawn Chorney to be placed on administrative leave while the Ministries step in.

 

Filed under: Canadore College