Kent Hehr, the federal minister for sport and persons with disabilities, has resigned from cabinet pending the outcome of an investigation into allegations of sexual misconduct, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said Thursday.
鈥淗arassment of any kind is unacceptable and Canadians have a right to live and work in environments free from harassment. As a government we take any allegations of misconduct extremely seriously,鈥� Trudeau said in a statement.
鈥淭oday, I accepted the Honourable Kent Hehr鈥檚 resignation from cabinet pending the outcome of the investigation.鈥�
The allegations against Hehr date back to his time as a member of the Alberta legislature.
Late Wednesday night, that she was told 鈥渢o avoid being in an elevator with Kent Hehr鈥� on her first day working at the legislature. She alleged that Hehr made 鈥渧erbally sexually suggestive comments鈥� to a number of women, and once told her: 鈥淵ou鈥檙e yummy.鈥�
In another statement on Thursday evening, she insisted 鈥渢his is not a partisan issue.鈥�
鈥淚 am not a liberal. I am a survivor -- like so many of my brave sisters who have already shared their stories and given hope and strength to others to do the same,鈥� she wrote.
Another woman told CTV News about an incident at the Liberal caucus Christmas party in December 2015, just a few weeks after Trudeau鈥檚 government was sworn in.
CTV News has agreed to protect the woman鈥檚 identity.
The woman said she was a guest at the party, where she was introduced to Hehr, who was serving as veterans affairs minister at the time.
She said she bent down to shake Hehr鈥檚 hand.
鈥淗e pulled me toward him so that it was chest to eye level, since he's in his wheelchair. And he said he was just enjoying the view,鈥� she said. 鈥淚t was clearly a reference to my chest.鈥�
The encounter left the woman 鈥渟hocked and surprised.鈥�
In a statement issued late Thursday afternoon, Hehr said he resigned from Trudeau鈥檚 cabinet pending the outcome of an investigation because he does not 鈥渨ant to be a distraction to all the good work being done by our government.鈥�
Hehr said he welcomes and respects the investigation process.
鈥淭he conversation our society is having is a very important one. I encourage all women who have felt uncomfortable or who have experienced harassment of any kind to continue to come forward,鈥� he said in the statement. 鈥淚t is never okay.鈥�
CTV News asked Hehr for comment on the alleged Christmas party incident. A representative from Hehr鈥檚 office said his earlier statement stands.
Hehr said he will stay on as an MP for Calgary Centre.
In what he referred to as Hehr鈥檚 鈥渓eave of absence,鈥� Trudeau said Hehr鈥檚 ministerial duties will be performed by Minister of Science Kirsty Duncan.
When asked about the allegations against Hehr earlier on Thursday in Davos, Switzerland, the prime minister responded by saying that it鈥檚 鈥渞eally important to believe and support any woman who comes forward with allegations of sexual harassment or sexual assault and that鈥檚 exactly what, my government and myself, we do.鈥�
Trudeau said he鈥檚 鈥渦nequivocal鈥� in his support for women who come forward.
None of the allegations against Hehr have been proven in court.
With a report from CTV鈥檚 Ottawa Bureau Chief Joyce Napier
