Schweitzer says he wasn’t involved in firing of his Chief of Staff
Posted Oct 28, 2021 11:34 am.
Last Updated Oct 29, 2021 6:19 am.
Alberta Minister Doug Schweitzer says it wasn’t his decision to fire his chief of staff, Ariella Kimmel, after she alleged sexual harassment in the workplace.
In a statement of claim against the Office of the Premier, Kimmel alleges she worked in a poisoned work environment that involved sexual harassment and heavy drinking in some of the Legislature offices.
READ MORE: Former UCP staffer files lawsuit against premier’s office, alleges sexual harassment, heavy drinking
Schweitzer tells CityNews Calgary that he was not aware of the allegations.
“A lot of the information that came out of the media yesterday was new to me. That being said, Ariella Kimmel is an excellent staffer, I’ve been a reference for her after she departed from the Legislature, and I’d still be a reference for her today,” he said.
EXCLUSIVE: Minister Doug Schweitzer says it wasn't his decision to fire his chief of staff, Ariella Kimmel. He says "a lot of the information that came out yesterday was very new to me." Adds, Kimmel was an excellent staffer & he's been a reference for her.#abpoli #ableg #Alberta
— Saif Kaisar (@StaySaif) October 28, 2021
“I had heard a couple different rumors that may have been going around, but a lot of it was third and fourth-hand and by the time I learned that, many of the issues were already being looked internally by the HR team.”
Schweitzer says he enjoyed working with Kimmel.
“She was an excellent staffer, all of my interactions with her in my office were professional. I enjoyed working with her, I’ve been a reference for her and happy to be a reference for her again.”
Ariella Kimmel is suing the Premier's office, alleging a poisoned work environment and sexual harassment. When I asked Schweitzer why she was fired, he said, "I'd have to point you to the HR team for the Legislature that's run out of the Premier's office." #abpoli #ableg #abpoli
— Saif Kaisar (@StaySaif) October 28, 2021
“Those decisions weren’t mine to make, that being said I really enjoyed working with her, she was an excellent staffer, I was a reference for her going forward, and I’d work with her again.”
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He echoed a statement from the premier’s office that sexual harassment is unacceptable in the workplace.
“We have to make sure that our sexual harassment policies stand up, so I do think that it’s worthy for us to make sure we have a safe work environment long-term, to we make sure to review those policies, to make sure they worked in this instance as well and if improvements need to be made, make sure that we make those improvements,” Schweitzer added.
“You cannot have sexual harassment in the workplace, it’s simply not acceptable.”
Kimmel’s lawyer, Kathryn Marshal, says she cannot provide a statement on Schweitzer’s comments.
Kimmel’s statement of claim says on Oct. 21, 2020, Ivan Bernardo, a principal secretary in Jason Kenney’s government who “was known for making sexual comments”, made an inappropriate comment toward one of Kimmel’s staff members.
RELATED: Kenney should resign amid toxic workplace lawsuit, former Alberta minister says
She says that the premier’s office, along with several other ministers, was made aware of the sexual comments made toward the staffer, but the statement claims no action was taken. Kimmel says in the claim that she was specifically told Bernardo would not be fired and that he would instead be allowed to finish his contract, which would not be renewed.
Kimmel also says that when media reported on ministers travelling over last year’s COVID-19 holiday season, she was wrongfully accused of leaking the travel information and was terminated a short time after.
“This Government has zero-tolerance for harassment and takes all allegations of this nature very seriously,” said Pam Livingston, the Chief of Staff to the Premier in a statement.
“We cannot comment on the specifics of confidential human resource matters, but note that Mr. Bernardo has not been an employee of the Government of Alberta since December 2020.”
