Canada: Newfoundland minister asked to step aside during review of harassment allegations
St John's, Apr 26 (IBNS): A cabinet minister from Newfoundland and Labrador has been asked to step aside during the conduction of a review which will look into the harassment allegations brought against him, media reports said.
Premier Dwight Ball has informed this in a statement on Wednesday.
Ball said he asked Eddie Joyce to step aside from duties of municipality affairs and environment ministry when the review will be conducted.
The premier said the allegations have been brought by a Liberal MHA.
However, the harassment allegations are not "sexual" in nature.
Ball's statement has been quoted by CTV News, "I received a complaint from an MHA in my caucus about alleged undue behaviour exhibited by a member of my caucus."
"I proactively addressed the public to make them aware of the situation and stress that the complaints were being taken very seriously.
"I also indicated that I would be working with the complainant to initiate processes in accordance with their comfort and wishes in a prompt manner. I commend the complainant for coming forward."
Ball said a meeting was called upon to decide the steps after allegations were brought against Joyce.
Speaking about the allegations, Ball said: "This is not something that is sexual in nature. This is not a physical assault or physical in nature," he said. "This is really about behaviour and conduct, but yet I do not want to dismiss the seriousness of any of those complaints."
Ball has been quoted by CTV News.
(Reporting by Suman Das)
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