Sault news: Algoma-Manitoulin riding president calls on Mantha to resign

In light of an investigation that uncovered his sexual harassment of a former staffer, the NDP riding association in Algoma-Manitoulin is calling on MPP Michael Mantha to resign.

Association president Lynn Dee Eason made the call in an open letter Friday. Mantha, MPP for Algoma-Manitoulin, now sits as an independent after he was booted from the New Democratic caucus when the allegations emerged last year.

Details of the harassment were released last week as part of the former staffer’s grievance for losing her job with the Ontario NDP.

The harassment, which the investigation concluded was substantiated, included instances in which “Mantha pressured the former staffer to engage in non-consensual sexual interactions with him,” said the decision from arbitrator Jasbir Parmar, who heard the case.

“MPP Mantha sexually harassed the grievor on a regular basis in the office, engaging in several incidents of unwanted physical and sexual contact, notwithstanding the grievor’s protests that he stop such conduct.”

In light of an investigation that uncovered sexual harassment of a former staffer, the NDP riding association in Algoma-Manitoulin is calling on MPP Michael Mantha to resign. (File)

Mantha also asked the former staffer to send him “sexually explicit photos of herself” and tell him about any sexual dreams she had about him.

Three witnesses with direct knowledge of the allegations were interviewed as part of the investigation, and there was a “review of substantial video evidence, as well as text messages and online communications,” the decision said.

In her letter, Eason said Mantha was removed from the NDP caucus while the allegations were investigated. Now that the details have come to light, she said he should do the right thing now and resign.

“Mantha seems intent on serving out this term and running as an independent candidate in the next provincial election,” she wrote.

“On Aug. 12 … he issued a statement stating that ‘it is time to move past this matter’ and that he ‘disagrees with some of the characterizations made.’ However, there does not seem to be any dispute that he engaged in grossly inappropriate behaviour toward an employee …”

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In response to the investigation going public, Mantha issued a statement that said he wouldn’t be commenting further on the issue on the advice of legal counsel.

“It is my honour to represent the people of Algoma-Manitoulin,” the statement said.

“I will fulfill my role as Member of Provincial Parliament for the remainder of this term and leave the decision on my future in the hands of voters in Algoma-Manitoulin.”

But Eason said that voters deserve “the integrity we voted for.”

“Mantha, who claims he respects us, has not shown this for the survivor of his harassment, nor for the constituents who elected him and has stonewalled his way through this investigation. For two years, he has taken no accountability for his actions, claiming to be ‘baffled’ by the allegations,” she wrote.

“We call on Mr. Mantha to take full responsibility for his actions and resign immediately from the position of Member of Provincial Parliament for Algoma-Manitoulin. Our thoughts remain with the survivor.”