Joly, Vennard respond to Shoan appeal, allegations of bias

A CRTC commissioner is refuting allegations of inappropriate conduct and racism levied by a former colleague, Raj Shoan, the recently fired representative for Ontario. Included in documents filed last week with the federal court to appeal his dismissal was a June 14 letter from Shoan to Heritage Minister Mélanie Joly citing allegations of “institutional bigotry and bias at the highest levels of the CRTC.” Shoan wrote the letter to bring to Joly’s attention examples of alleged mistreatment of employees by Linda Vennard, the CRTC commissioner for Alberta and the Northwest Territories. Court documents show that in a June 14 letter to Joly, Shoan wrote that individuals employed at the CRTC approached him on condition of anonymity alleging “inappropriate conduct” by Vennard. The letter alleged that Vennard’s conduct resulted in a complaint made by her executive assistant, Margot Anderson, who “alleged that the words and actions of Commissioner Vennard contributed to a toxic work environment.” Among the offending actions, which in the letter Shoan said were relayed to him by these anonymous third parties, Anderson alleged that Vennard “habitually referred” to her as “maggot;” referred to Candice Molnar, commissioner for Saskatchewan and Manitoba, as a “scraggly hag;” referred to Shoan as “a spoiled rich brown kid who probably grew up with servants;” and, on one occasion, allegedly requested to change hotels because “there were too many black people” there. None of the allegations have been proven in court. Vennard has since responded to the allegations in an emailed statement. “I would like to point out and remind people that the offensive comments Mr. Shoan alleges I made are completely unsubstantiated allegations only. I hold my colleagues in the highest regard, and in particular Commissioner Candice Molnar — one of the most dedicated and knowledgeable people I have ever worked with and whom I admire and respect in every way,” Vennard said. “The offensive racist comments Mr. Shoan alleges I made are more unsubstantiated allegations not to be believed.” She added that the “unsubstantiated offensive comments Mr. Shoan alleges I made are just malicious and hurtful to all of us and serve no purpose other than his own.” Shoan claims in the June letter that Anderson retired from the Commission, “having received a rumoured substantial settlement.” In his letter, Shoan juxtaposed his dismissal and the CRTC’s supposed lack of a completed investigation on the Vennard case as “clear inconsistencies in the treatment of both complaints.” An order-in-council issued last month ended Shoan’s governor-in-council appointment to the CRTC, a move deemed unusual by observers. He was initially appointed to a five-year term in June 2013, but the last 14 months have been overshadowed by legal battles between him and the CRTC, with Shoan refuting a harassment claim and taking issue with the reach of the chairman’s authority. In an email sent to CRTC staff Friday, chairman Jean-Pierre Blais said that “the CRTC’s credibility is being questioned” and that he “will not shy away from saying that our organization is going through a difficult time.” Blais added that “the allegations reported lately by the media regarding certain CRTC Commissioners and staff represent a distraction for all of us.” In an email statement, Joly said she has “complete confidence in the Commission and its staff in carrying out their statutory functions.” She added: “I also want to underline my full respect for the legal process whereby Mr. Shoan has exercised his legal rights with respect to the decision to terminate his appointment. As such, it would be inappropriate for parties to comment further while the matter is before the courts.” — With reporting by Ahmad Hathout at ahathout@thewirereport.ca and editing by Charelle Evelyn at cevelyn@thewirereport.ca

Joly, Vennard respond to Shoan appeal, allegations of bias

News | July 11, 2016

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Joly, Vennard respond to Shoan appeal, allegations of bias

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