This article was first published by SooToday, a Village Media publication.
MPP Michael Mantha released a brief statement this morning about the sexual harassment revelations that led to his ouster from the Ontario NDP Caucus, saying "it is time to move past this matter."
As our sister site Sudbury.com first reported yesterday, an arbitration hearing shed more light on the specific details of the independent investigation launched last year into Mantha’s workplace misconduct.
The investigation concluded, on a balance of probabilities, that the longtime Algoma-Manitoulin MPP repeatedly sexually harassed a female employee at his Elliot Lake office, including requesting that she send him sexually explicit photos of herself.
The investigation also concluded that Mantha pressured the woman to "engage in non-consensual sexual interactions with him," despite her repeated protests that he stop.
Mantha required that the woman "submit to his hugs on a regular basis," inform him of "any sexual dreams about him," and pressured her to work from the office more "so that he could physically have access to her and continue his practice of sexually touching her," the investigation found.
“The last two years have been very challenging, but it is time to move past this matter,” Mantha said, in his written statement released Saturday morning. “While I disagree with some of the characterizations made, on the advice of my legal counsel I will not be commenting further at this time.”
Now an Independent MPP, Mantha’s statement goes on to hint that he will run in the next provincial election.
“It is my honour to represent the people of Algoma-Manitoulin,” he 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.”
