'Poisoned work environment': Staffer alleges sexual harassment, intoxication in suit against Kenney's office
CBC
A former Alberta legislature staff member is suing the premier's office, saying she suffered from a toxic workplace culture and was fired as retribution for speaking out about the problems she saw there.
The allegations in Ariella Kimmel's lawsuit include sexual harassment and heavy drinking by ministers and staff in legislature offices, as well as claims that senior staff in the premier's office fabricated rumours about her contributing to her termination.
CBC News has obtained a copy of the legal document. None of the allegations has been proven in court.
Kimmel worked as the chief of staff to the minister of jobs, economy and innovation from August 2020 until she was fired in February 2021. She had worked with Jason Kenney's UCP government since May 2019.
Kenney's office is the overseeing office responsible for ministries.
The statement of claim says in mid-October 2020, Kimmel found Agriculture and Forestry Minister Devin Dreeshen drinking with a chief of staff in his office. They later met up in another minister's office, where the ministers and staff in attendance appeared to be heavily intoxicated, Kimmel said.
Her statement said that during the gathering, she expressed concern about how drunk Dreeshen was and encouraged him to stop drinking.
After they left the suite, the lawsuit alleges, the minister confronted her about the intervention and "aggressively yelled at her to the point where she was in tears and a concerned bystander intervened."
Prior to her appointment as chief of staff that year, Kimmel had been in an on-and-off relationship with Dreeshen.
Two days later, another group of staff met for drinks in the minister of health's office. That night, Ivan Bernardo, the minister's principal advisor, is alleged to have made a sexually inappropriate comment to one of Kimmel's female staff members.
"I haven't seen you on this floor before because with a body like that, I would have noticed you," the statement of claim alleges Bernardo said.
The statement also alleges Bernardo was known to have been sexually inappropriate with other women in the building.
The next day, Kimmel reported the exchange to Chris Thresher, the chief of staff in health, and Matt Wolf, the premier's director of issues management.
She heard nothing for almost a month.
Run 3 Space | Play Space Running Game
Traffic Jam 3D | Online Racing Game
Duck Hunt | Play Old Classic Game
When people in B.C.'s Kootenay region saw electric vehicles and chargers multiplying in urban communities on the coast, they realized they were missing out on potential visitors and customers.
Talking politics with family and friends? Start with curiosity and respect, says P.E.I. psychologist
The federal election is coming up on April 28, and campaigns can stir up lots of opinion and emotions.
Patrick O'Hara might be one of the most motivated federal candidates in Canada.
This First Person article is the experience of Kiran Somanchi, an ex-oil patch engineer in Calgary. For more information about CBC's First Person stories, please see the FAQ.
The final roadblock to Ontario's takeover of the Gardiner Expressway Parkway could be cleared this year as the province and city finalize a deal Toronto's mayor says will free up the city's finances to better maintain everything from its transit system to its parks.
Two federal party leaders took aim Saturday at Mark Carney, whom polls suggest is the front-runner in the April 28 election, for once again skipping the campaign trail.
On April 12, 1980, Terry Fox wrote in his diary, "Today is the day it all begins," after starting his Marathon of Hope in St. John's.
Winnipeg police officers opened fire on a stolen pickup truck they say was driven toward them as the driver tried to flee, before the truck crashed into a house and caused an explosion Friday night.
The streets of South Vancouver transformed into a lively, colourful celebration on Saturday as hundreds of thousands of people gathered for the city's annual Vaisakhi parade, which organizers say is one of the largest of its kind in Canada.
Alberta's auditor general is contradicting the provincial government's assertion that it is normal to have lawyers involved in its investigations.
Some Toronto cycling advocates say they're hopeful the province will walk back its plans to remove three key bike lanes after Ontario's transportation minister indicated there may be room to compromise with the city.
Some residents in Whitehorse's Takhini neighbourhood are not convinced the new École Whitehorse Elementary School won't seriously affect traffic in the area, despite proposed mitigations laid out in a recent traffic impact assessment.
Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre is accusing the Liberals of mixed messaging over the war in Gaza as video emerged of one candidate calling the crisis a "genocide" just days after leader Mark Carney clarified his own remarks.