Prince George, B.C.- Commissioner  of the Missing and Murdered Women Inquiry, Wally Oppal, has started an independent investigation into allegations of sexism and discrimination  within the ranks of Commission Staff. The announcement  follows a  National Post story which alleges discrimination and sexism within the ranks of Commission Staff.

 

The National Post quotes anonymous sources as saying   it was a “highly sexualized” workplace environment where male staff members made offensive comments about women and their bodies.” The article paints a picture of a group which is facing the same issues which are said to be at the core of the flawed police investigation into the disappearances and deaths of women from Vancouver’s downtown east side.

 

In announcing the investigation, Oppal says  he is outraged by the anonymous allegations “I was first informed about these allegations last Friday morning by Senior Counsel Art Vertlieb, after he was interviewed by Brian Hutchinson of the National Post. Mr. Vertlieb was shocked by these accusations and came to me right after the interview was over. I immediately took the steps to initiate an independent investigation into the allegations.”

 

Commissioner Oppal says the behaviour described in the allegations “goes against everything I stand for as a human being and as the Commissioner of this Inquiry. Anyone who knows me understands that I am someone who bases my personal and professional relationships on respect. Neither I, nor senior counsel had any knowledge of this kind of behaviour at the Commission. It would not be tolerated.”

 

Oppal says there have been no formal complaints made, and no former employees came forward with any such allegations “Had anyone come to me or to senior counsel, we would have immediately launched an investigation and the person responsible would have been dealt with accordingly. Upon learning of these allegations, we engaged the services of an experienced independent investigator (Delayne Sartison, Q.C.) to look into the allegations.”

 

“It has always been my personal style to walk around the office and speak one-on-one with people. I do that on a regular basis and no one – not one person – has ever brought up any of the issues outlined in this article to me. There has never been any indication of issues of this nature.”

 

 Oppal says while he understands there will be plenty of questions about the allegations, he is not able to speak to those questions until the independent investigation is complete.

 

The allegations are the latest in a string of issues which have plagued the Commission since it’s inception. There have been issues over financial support for those taking part, the resignation of the lawyer who was hired to represent the families of the victims of Robert Pickton, and most recently the failed attempt to have the inquiry extended.

 

The Commission of Inquiry continues, and is  expected to release its final report  in June of this year.