A Speaker who continued to Bar me the whole time I argued the Crown in Federal Court is now barred from his own political party

http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/new-brunswick/chris-collins-harassment-allegation-suspended-speaker-1.4607199

N.B. Speaker suspended from caucus amid harassment allegations

Government may take other steps, pending independent investigation, premier says

Bobbi-Jean MacKinnon · CBC News · Posted: Apr 05, 2018 6:56 PM AT

64 Comments 

Commenting is now closed for this story.

 

David Amos

Methinks its rather strange that the Premier didn't suspend his pal from caucus back in February and I doubt he can fire the Speaker N'esy Pas?

 

Jonas Smith

Is anyone really surprised about this? Anyone who personally knows him knows that he's as vindictive as Mr. Burns.

Mike Bookman

@Jonas Smith
I've known Chris for 35 years, know his brother as well. I don't find him vindictive at all, he's actually quite concerned about how other perceive him, as he should be.
How long have you personally known him to come to the decision that he's vindictive? And what was it that made you think that way?

David Amos

@Mike Bookman I recall when your pal was first elected he was compelled to tune up a mean mouthed conservative. I agreed that the nasty dude had it coming and published my words in blogs. in my humble opinion Collins was not being vindictive he was merely doing what any decent Father should when challenged.

However on the other hand Collins has never spoken up in my defense and in fact has continued to bar me from the legislative properties even after I sued the Crown about it.

David Amos 

@David Amos I believe Collins as Speaker should have paid attention when I informed him and his cohorts of this Malice

IN THE MATTER OF an application by New Brunswick Power Corporation for approval of the schedules of the rates for the fiscal year commencing April 1, 2018. held at the Delta Hotel Saint John, New Brunswick, on October 31, 2017.

CHAIRMAN: And would you agree that Mr. Amos has in fact essentially fulfilled the obligations of the first part of what had been your objection?
MR. FUREY: I would.
CHAIRMAN: Okay. So with respect to the duty to participate responsibly, you filed documentation which has been provided to all the parties and the Board of course has read it, as I'm sure others have. Do you -- I guess it's your objection. So is there anything that you want to highlight here or anything further you want to add?
MR. FUREY: Yes. If I might have a few minutes to do that, I would appreciate it, Mr. Chair.

"I think it's worth noting that Mr. Amos' own documents show that he has, on at least one occasion and perhaps two, been banned or barred from the grounds of the New Brunswick Legislative Assembly on the basis of harassment of MLAs, officers and staff of the Legislative Assembly. Having been so barred, he brought a complaint against the members of the Fredericton City police force to the Police Commission, that was subsequently dismissed, relating to their involvement in barring him from the Legislative Assembly. "

David Amos

Methinks Fredericton's infamous "Blogger" Chucky Leblanc jumped on this news in record time N'esy Pas?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=743vdHzurUI&t=73s

Joseph Vacher

@David Amos

use the word "blooger" loosely

David Amos

@Joseph Vacher LOL

Content disabled.

David Amos 

@Joseph Vacher FYI I gave the the "Blogger" who is always crying about being on welfare a free computer in 2004 when I was running in the election of the the 38th Parliament. Chucky didn't even bother to thank me. However he was quick to falsely claim I was a Hells Angel. He was the only one to ever report that I was barred from legislative properties as he lied about the what really went down as he teased me on behalf of his political pals. When Chucky was barred two years later he forgot all about the same injustice happening to me or the fact that I ran for public office four more times since 2004. Methinks Blogger is the nicest name I can use to describe Chucky with N'esy Pas?

David Amos

@Joseph Vacher Trust that you would have enjoyed reading what CBC blocked

John O'Brien

This could not happen at a better time to a better group. Gallant has been playing dirty spending million$$$$ of our money to buy votes to make up for his incompetence and his caucus' greed.He is skirting the law and playing loose with the rules. Sooo - it looks like someone bested him. I agree this looks too convenient for the opposition but it is no worse than what the Liberals are doing. I just hope this shows the mismanagement of this government to the voters.

David Amos

@John O'Brien "I agree this looks too convenient for the opposition"

I am offended by all of them even the PANB, the NDP and the Greens support my illegal barring from legislative properties More importantly nobody dares to even admit that I have a lawsuit about it.

 

Gord Hasay

Anonymous allegations by anyone should be treated as libel or slander. Guilty by hearsay isn't justice. If you are going to cost someone their job or position then the accuser should have the backbone to stand up and speak out. Anything else is a cowardly and dirty attack on a person's reputation. If the accusation is true then there are legal ways to deal with it.

David Amos

@Gord Hasay I agree

 
Douglas James

Sounds to me like Mr. Collins should have been transferred to "an alternate employment setting".

David Amos

@Douglas James FYI the Premier can't "transfer" the Speaker

 
Douglas Fowler

The MSM is full of "allegations"! How many turn out to be true? Do we ever know?

David Amos

@Douglas Fowler Methinks folks would find the offenses that MSM won't report far more interesting N'esy Pas?

 
Aaron Allison

Gallant learned about this in February , and he shut the Legislature done to cover it up. The question is Does the Liberals have a Functioning Government. Time for a Election

Mike McCormick

@Aaron Allison You can't really believe that. The person who made the allegation is said to have decided not to proceed with any action back in February an only decided to do so this week.

David Amos

@Mike McCormick I believe it and definitely don't believe the spin today

  
dale mcrobie

Is anyone else tired of the media coverage about this? I mean it's every other story!

David Amos

@dale mcrobie This story just broke last night

 
Buford Wilson

There's a whole lotta inappropriate touching going on.

David Amos

@Buford Wilson I heard that too but consider it just more of the same old same old.

Mike McCormick

@Buford Wilson Why do you think it involves touching?

Mike Bookman

@Buford Wilson
Hardcore conservative Buford leaps the subject matter to 'touching' with no proof.

David Amos

@Mike Bookman YUP

 
rayma allaby

thank you mr. gallant for handling this this way....obviously the allegations are serious or he wouldn't have been suspended.

David Amos

@rayma allaby Methinks I recall Gallant suspending a Harvey dude from the caucus just before the last election but that didn't take long to fix and welcome him back into the fold N'esy Pas?

 
charleysinclair

Liberals ...

David Amos

@charleysinclair Conservatives Too

David Amos

@charleysinclair Remember the recent news about the leader of the Conservatives in Nova Scotia? However I been wrong before but I suspect that this spit and chew is a guy thing. However methinks the "Me Too" movement ain't picking sides N'esy Pas?

http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/nova-scotia/jamie-baillie-resigns-inappropriate-behaviour-1.4501742

Nova Scotia PC Leader Jamie Baillie forced out over allegations of 'inappropriate behaviour'r
CBC News · Posted: Jan 24, 2018 1:18 PM AT

 
Ben Brown

Hopefully the 'independent third party' concludes its investment in orderly time.

David Amos

@Ben Brown Methinks 'independent third parties' and tooth fairies can be found under same heading in the book of myths They both deal in cash in a secretive fashion and everybody is left happy despite some having less teeth in their grin N'esy Pas?

Mike McCormick

@David Amos What would you do?

David Amos

@Mike McCormick What I have been doing since 2004

Mario Doucet

Why did it take so long to say something, in Ontario, the conservatives were automatically guilty within hours of the news, what gives, are the Acadians that special?

Evelyn Gaudreau

@Mario Doucet Why would you think that does Chris Collins represent the Acadians...

David Amos

@Evelyn Gaudreau Methinks that Collins ain't an Acadian name N'esy Pas?

 

Mario Doucet

Time to take out the trash!

David Amos

@Mario Doucet and leave it with the Conservatives hanging around the dump

  

Mario Doucet

Another Shawn Graham left over bits the dust, Gallant will be last man standing come election day, a great future lies ahead for NB when this liberal trash is finally gone.

David Amos

@Mario Doucet I would not bet on that pipe dream coming true.

 
Dianne MacPherson

Innocent until PROVEN guilty !!!!!

William Gerula

@Dianne MacPherson not in the misandry of Canada it isn't.

David Amos

@Dianne MacPherson True

Dianne MacPherson

@William Gerula
The #ME TOO movement has gotten
out of hand.
Families destroyed on innuendo and
no one in court !!!!

David Amos

@Dianne MacPherson The #ME TOO movement has gotten
out of hand.

I agree

 
Matt Steele

At this point , these are only allegations by an unnamed person ; but this will probably end Collin's political career . It might be better if names were kept confidential until the allegations were proven true since the accuser's name was kept confidential ; and had already been transferred to a different position . Sounds like Gallant is more than willing to throw others under the bus when it suits his own agenda , rather than wait for due process to take its course .

Paul Bourgoin

@Matt Steele
Matt, Sounds like you also shoved Gallant under the bus!!

David Amos

@Paul Bourgoin Should we holler stop or arret to the bus driver or simply not bother?

David Amos

Methinks many folks should hope that this causes a big slip in the polls for the liberals and as a result we get a minority government next time around so that nobody has a good grip on the public purse N'esy Pas?

  
 
Mark Deckard

Chris Collins is not a fan of Brian Gallant. He's as good as gone.

David Amos

@Mark Deckard I suspect that is true

 
Mark Deckard

"Gallant declined to say whether the former employee is a man or a woman, or whether the allegations are of a sexual nature"

If these accusations were against a Conservative MLA, you can bet we would at least know if the person was a he or she. What transparency!

Dianne MacPherson

@Mark Deckard
I think it was sexual and a female as accuser.
Why ? because if it was a male and it was just
harassment he would probably have looked after
the issue himself......
do men still settle their beefs by "calling the other party
outside" ????

David Amos

@Dianne MacPherson The kind of "man" I call friends do However the kind of "people" the liberal support who would know where they stand when offended. Methiinks it must be another case of mankind versus peoplekind within the liberal mind that demands you ignore the Charter to run for their party or even get some help offering summer jobs to others N'esy Pas?

 
Mark Deckard

I can't believe this province elected a Justin Trudeau wannabe as their Premier.

 

Page is closed to commenting.

David Amos

 @Mark Deckard Methinks Gallant got elected before Trudeau "The Younger" did and was hardly around when Trudeau was in town during the Federal Election. N'esy Pas?

N.B. Speaker suspended from caucus amid harassment allegations

Government may take other steps, pending independent investigation, premier says

Bobbi-Jean MacKinnon · CBC News · Posted: Apr 05, 2018 6:56 PM AT

Speaker and Moncton Centre MLA Chris Collins, 55, has been suspended from the Liberal caucus pending investigation of allegations of harassment, New Brunswick Premier Brian Gallant said. (Jacques Poitras/CBC)


The Speaker of the New Brunswick Legislature has been suspended from the Liberal caucus immediately amid allegations of harassment, Premier Brian Gallant announced Thursday night.

A former employee of the legislature made the allegations against Chris Collins, who also represents the riding Moncton Centre, Gallant said during a teleconference with media at 6:30 p.m. AT.

Gallant declined to say whether the former employee is a man or a woman, or whether the allegations are of a sexual nature, saying it is not his place to do so.

Any workplace harassment is unacceptable.- N.B. Premier Brian Gallant

The government may take other steps, pending an independent third-party investigation, he said.
"Further action will be considered following the conclusion of the investigation."

Collins, 55, could not immediately be reached for comment.

It's unclear what this will mean for his political future. New Brunswick goes to the polls on Sept. 24 but a Liberal MLA who is suspended from caucus can't run for nomination. The nomination for the Liberals in that riding has not yet been held.

'Personality conflicts'

Gallant said staff in his office had previously been made aware of "personality conflicts" between Collins and the former employee in question, although he did not indicate when.

The employee was subsequently transferred to "an alternate employment setting," he said.

Gallant said his office learned on Feb. 17 that allegations of harassment might be coming. The former employee was contacted that same day and asked for time to "consider the options," he said.

It was confirmed Wednesday that the former employee was making the allegations, Gallant said.

Gallant said staff in his office had previously been made aware of 'personality conflicts' between Collins and the former employee who made the complaint. (CBC)

"Any workplace harassment is unacceptable and government will take prompt and appropriate action in this situation, and whenever such allegations are brought forward."

"It is crucial that we ensure that workplaces are safe and respectable for all people, in all situations."
Asked whether police are investigating, Gallant said he is unaware of any other investigations.

The Fredericton Police Force and the New Brunswick Union of Public and Private Employees could not immediately be reached for comment.

• Chris Collins elected Speaker of Legislature

• Chris Collins targeted by angry tweets from Americans confusing him with Trump ally

Collins was elected on March 5, 2007, in a byelection held to fill a vacancy in the constituency of Moncton East.

He had previously served three years as a Moncton city councillor.

In 2010, Collins served briefly as the minister of local government under former Liberal premier Shawn Graham.

He was re-elected in 2014 to represent the newly created riding of Moncton Centre and was elected Speaker.
 


http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/new-brunswick/collins-not-easily-ousted-1.4608693

Speaker Collins can't easily be ousted after allegations of harassment

Removing Chris Collins would require vote of all MLAs because of Speaker's independence

Jacques Poitras · CBC News · Posted: Apr 06, 2018 6:38 PM AT | 

Speaker and Moncton Centre MLA Chris Collins, 55, has been suspended from the Liberal caucus pending an investigation into allegations of harassment. (CBC)

 

Chris Collins has two things going for him as he faces allegations of harassment while serving as Speaker of the New Brunswick legislature.

One is the presumption of innocence. The other is centuries of British parliamentary tradition.
The allegations by a former employee of the legislature against Collins, a three-term MLA from Moncton, have not been proven.

• N.B. Speaker suspended from caucus amid harassment allegations 
• Chris Collins elected Speaker of Legislature

Even if they were — or if Premier Brian Gallant wanted to remove him quickly to avoid controversy leading up to September's election  — Collins could not easily be ousted.

He occupies a unique role in the political system. As Speaker, he is virtually untouchable unless members of the legislature take extraordinary steps to remove him.

"I often say that there are people who run more than the Speaker does, but there are very few people who run what they run as absolutely as the Speaker," said Kelly Lamrock, a former MLA and onetime Liberal house leader.

"Chris Collins is the speaker of the house until a majority of the house meets and says otherwise, or until Chris Collins tenders his resignation properly.

"There's no external measure that could be looked at."

'A different situation'

Premier Brian Gallant alluded to that Thursday evening when he revealed the allegations of harassment against Collins.

Because the legislature is a separate branch of government, the Speaker's case is "a bit of a different situation" from one "within the purview and umbrella" of the government, Gallant said.

The reason there's not a lot of precedent is before it get to that, somebody usually backs down. Somebody signs a resignation letter.- Kelly Lamrock, former MLA

That independence stems from centuries of British parliamentary tradition. A key principle is that a legislature must be able to function free of interference from the monarch, and from the ministers who serve the monarch.

Conversely, the Speaker is subject to the collective authority of the province's 49 MLAs.

The legislature's rules define how a Speaker is elected but are silent on how a Speaker can be removed.
But because of the body's own independence, including freedom from most legal challenges, its members could remove a speaker even without a clear process, Lamrock said.

"In many ways, you're getting into areas that aren't written down in any law but that come from centuries of received tradition and precedent, and it almost becomes a test of each side's saying to the other, 'what are you going to do about it?'

Gallant said staff in his office had been made aware earlier of 'personality conflicts' between Collins and the former employee of the legislature who made the complaint. (CBC)

 

"The reason there's not a lot of precedent is before it get to that, somebody usually backs down. Somebody signs a resignation letter."

In 2006, Lamrock led the Liberal push to remove Speaker Michael (Tanker) Malley, arguing Malley was not independent from the then-PC government. The Tories voted down his non-confidence motion.

The Collins case is less pressing because the legislature is not scheduled to sit before it is dissolved in August for the Sept. 24 election. A new speaker will be elected when the new legislature convenes after that.

Recalling the legislature

Even so, PC MLA Brian Macdonald issued a statement Thursday night, within two hours of Gallant's announcement, demanding the house be recalled.

"The Speaker is elected by the legislature and can only be dealt with by the legislature," he wrote.
Macdonald's fellow PC MLA Ted Flemming said Friday, however, that there's not much point to doing that.

"What is calling the legislature going to do?" he said. "OK, so there's question period. You ask them a question and they don't answer it. ... So what's that going to do?"

Brian Gallant knows an awful lot more about this issue than I do. … What did the premier do? What did he know?-  Ted Flemming, Progressive Conservative MLA

Still, Flemming said Gallant needs to explain why the government didn't bring the allegations to light when the house was sitting in February.

Gallant said Thursday night that he knew of the situation then, but the former employee wasn't sure at that time whether they wanted to file an official complaint.

"I'll tell you what I do know," Flemming said. "Brian Gallant knows an awful lot more about this issue than I do. … What did the premier do? What did he know?"

Besides presiding over the legislature's debates, the Speaker is also the administrative head of the institution, overseeing staffing and contracts, for example.

Gallant said Thursday night the government was asking the all-party legislative administration committee "to suspend the speaker from his administrative position pending an investigation."

Deputy asks for meeting

Such a meeting could come as early as next week.

Deputy Speaker Bernard LeBlanc, who is the vice-chair of the legislative administration committee, has asked the clerk to call a meeting on Monday in light of the allegations against Collins.

"I have full confidence that the members of the committee will take appropriate steps to ensure this matter is resolved appropriately, and that due process is followed," LeBlanc said in a statement.

One possibility is that the committee would elect a new chair who would take on the administrative role at the legislature while leaving Collins officially as Speaker.

Premier wants independent probe

Gallant said Thursday night the government is hoping committee will agree to "partner" with the government to hire an outside investigator to look into the allegations.

He also said Collins had been suspended from the Liberal caucus. Unlike the Speaker's status, that decision falls entirely under the authority of Gallant and his fellow Liberal MLAs.

The suspension from caucus puts Collins's political future in doubt. Gallant said an MLA suspended from caucus would not be approved as a candidate for September's election.

Collins did not respond to interview requests Friday.