NDP names women to lead anti-harassment commission

Manitoba'sNDPhas named the two women who will lead acommission to investigate "systemic failures" in the party that allowed harassment and misconduct to occur.

The New Democrats namedKemlinNembhard and Sandra Delarondeon Tuesday as the commissionerswhose work will begin in the coming weeks.

Theyare tasked with investigating the experiences of current and former staff and elected officials, identifying systemic failures of the work environment that allowed incidents ofharassment and misconduct to occur, anddeveloping recommendations for change, according to a news release from the NDP.

Those recommendations will include "proper policies and protocols to ensure anyone who experiences harassment has a clear andsupportive path to have it stopped and addressed," the release says.

The Commission to Establish a Safe and Respectful Political Environment was announced by party leader Wab Kinew in the wake ofcomplaints made againstformer MLA and cabinet minister StanStruthers.

A CBC News investigation revealed that four women complainedto NDP brass about Struthers's behaviourbetween 2010 and 2015.

The party told CBC that no formal disciplinary action was taken and the complaints were never formally investigated.

Three more women have come forward in the days since the initial story. Struthers has since apologized for his actions.

After calling for the commission, Kinewapproached MLA Greg Selinger the party's former leader and the province's former premier asking him to resign.

It was under Selinger'sgovernment that the incidents of Struthers's inappropriate touching took place, and under Selinger that nothing was done.

A week later, Selinger held a news conference to say he would retire from politics on March 7.

It is expected the commission willconclude its work by the end of April, with an interim report to be presented to the NDP convention in May 2018.

Those who want to participate in the commission can send a message to a confidential email address: commission@todaysndp.ca.

The email is accessible only to commissionersand any information shared will be kept confidential, the NDPsaid.

Dates and times for meetings will be set as individuals reach out to the commissioners.

Commissioner biographies

Sandra DeLaronde is the co-chair of the Coalition for Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls, and the executive director of the Indigenous Women's Leadership Institute. She served as executive director of the Helen Betty Osborne Memorial Foundation from 20012013.

Kemlin Nembhard served as the executive director of the Daniel McIntyreSt. Matthews Community Association from 2008 until 2017. She has worked in the provincial government as the senior project manager and policy analyst with Intergovernmental Affairs, and in the community economic development committee of cabinet from 2007 2008. She serves on boards forthe West End Cultural Centre and Herizons Magazine, and has previously served on many others.