O’Toole asks House to investigate toxic workplace allegations against Alberta MP

Conservative Leader Erin O'Toole says he's asked the House of Commons to probe allegations that Alberta MP Shannon Stubbs created a toxic work environment for her staff.

Conservative Leader Erin O’Toole says he’s asked the House of Commons to probe allegations that Alberta MP Shannon Stubbs created a toxic work environment for her staff.

The move prompted others, including those who want O’Toole ousted as leader, to come to her defence after she called for his leadership to be reviewed following the party’s election loss.

O’Toole says he learned of the allegations, which were first reported by the Globe and Mail on Monday, last week while touring in Quebec. The Canadian Press has confirmed an allegation in the report that employees say they felt pressured to paint her house.

Stubbs’ office did not immediately respond to a request for comment, but told the Globe the house-painting was a gift and denied any wrongdoing, saying she felt targeted for calling for a review of O’Toole’s leadership.

David Parker, a former staffer who worked in Stubbs’ office for almost a year beginning in 2016, told The Canadian Press it was clear that for the MP, “nothing was good enough, ever.”

Three other former staff members, who spoke to The Canadian Press on the condition of anonymity because they feared reprisals, allege that Stubbs would openly criticize colleagues in the office, send texts overnight and make belittling comments.

The Canadian Press has not reviewed those alleged communications.

O’Toole said Monday he asked the House of Commons to look into the matter because the allegations are of a serious nature, and expects his MPs to behave professionally.