Former security guard at northern Manitoba Hydro site says he saw sexual harassment, substance abuse

A former security guard on a northern Manitoba Hydro work site says he lasted one 21-day rotation before quitting, after seeingalcohol being smuggled in anddrugs out in the open, and witnessingsexual harassment first-hand.

Aidan Burns said he was hired by Sodexo, afood servicesandfacilities managementcompany, in 2015 to work security at the Keewatinohkcamp near Gillam, Man., which is about 740 kilometres northeast of Winnipeg.

He says he was shocked by what he witnessed at the camp, recalling one particular instance of sexual harassment.

"It had just freshly snowed. [The] security manager went outside, he collected some snowwalked inside, pulled the female employee's shirt forward, put it down her shirt," he recalled.

"[He] instantly pulled her shirt back and grabbed it and said, 'I'll get that out of there,'" Burns said.

"You could tell she was not OK with that."

I just knew this wasn't going to work out. I aspired to be a cop and I didn't want anything to do with that kind of stuff.- AidanBurns

Burns said he talked to other security staff about the incident and said they told him their concerns had been brushed off in the past.

"They also felt if they did bring these things up they would lose their job," he said.

He said he felt compelled to share his experience after the release of a report by the Clean Environment Commission, an arm's-length provincial agency that was tasked with studying the social impact of hydro development past and present on surrounding communities.

That report detailedincidents of racism and sexual assault at Manitoba Hydro work sites in northern Manitoba.

Its findings promptedthe province to ask the RCMPto investigate allegations of sexual assault ofFirst Nations women by Hydro workers dating back tothe 1960s.

"My wife is Aboriginal, she works at a school on a reserve, my kids are part Aboriginal," Burns said.

While he said he didn't see instances of racism first-hand, he said he feltSodexocould havemade more effort to hireIndigenous people.

Told to ignore drugs, alcohol

Manitoba Hydro spokespersonScott PowellsaidSodexois contracted to providecatering, housekeeping and security services at both its Keewatinohkand Keeyasksites.

He said Hydro policy allows workers to consume three alcoholic beverages while off-duty at the camp lounge.

"Workers found under the influence of alcohol or drugs on the job site itself are suspended immediately and evicted from camp for one year," Powell said in an email.

Burns said he confiscated alcohol from workers while searching vehicles as they entered camp and that he saw loud parties where people where openly drinking.

He said he was instructed to turn a blind eye to drugs and alcohol.

"One day I had found a large Mason jar that was full of marijuana buds, so I took that and I took it back to the office," he said.

"The manager said, quote 'You know, just go put it back. Let's just leave itthat's the only thing that keeps these people calm.'

"Straight away, then, I just knew this wasn't going to work out. I aspired to be a cop and I didn't want anything to do with that kind of stuff."

'Strict site polices': Hydro

Powell said Manitoba Hydro has no knowledge of these allegations and says the Crown corporation encourages anyone who witnessescriminal activity to contact RCMP.

"As we have stated repeatedly we take all allegations as very serious matters, as they would contravene our strict site polices," he said.

"We work extremely hard to ensure a safe and respectful workplace for all."

A spokesperson for Sodexosaid in an email the company is fully committed to a safe and secure workplace and does not respond to hearsay.