Employee suspended from Conservative MP's office following alleged insensitive comments
An employee at a Regina Conservative MP’s office has been suspended from his duties following allegations of insensitive comments toward a constituent.
Kashif Jamali is a financial accountant in Regina. He told CTV News he contacted the office of Regina—Wascana MP Michael Kram to obtain a letter of reference on a government matter. Jamali presented a proposed draft of the letter, and it was during this interaction that alleged insensitive comments were made.
“He said, ‘you should improve your English before coming to an MP’s office’ and during this conversation, he added that Canadian MP’s are not here to help immigrants,” Jamali told CTV News.
He shared his concerns about the interaction in a Facebook post.
“The problem isn’t that [the] MP's assistant feels ‘Yikes’ about our accent and English, the problem is it’s coming from [a] federal MP’s office, who we voted to be our voice and stand against racism,” Jamali wrote on Facebook.
Kram was not available for an interview on Thursday, but confirmed to CTV News that the employee against whom allegations were made has been suspended, pending an internal investigation.
“This investigation, which will be done in consultation with the House of Commons Human Resources department, will be conducted on the basis of the best practices of HR and ordinary justice,” Kram said. “This is to say that there will be presumption of innocence, a right to a defence and that the investigation will be based on evidence not hearsay.”
He also said that if evidence of wrongdoing is presented, the employee in question will face disciplinary action “commensurate with the assessed severity of the offences.”
Kram has been in office for nearly two years since defeating long-time Liberal MP Ralph Goodale in the 2019 federal election.
Jamali says he has also had positive experiences dealing with Kram’s staff. He is pleased that his concern is being taken seriously.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Young people 'tortured' if stolen vehicle operations fail, Montreal police tell MPs
One day after a Montreal police officer fired gunshots at a suspect in a stolen vehicle, senior officers were telling parliamentarians that organized crime groups are recruiting people as young as 15 in the city to steal cars so that they can be shipped overseas.
'It was joy': Trapped B.C. orca calf eats seal meat, putting rescue on hold
A rescue operation for an orca calf trapped in a remote tidal lagoon off Vancouver Island has been put on hold after it started eating seal meat thrown in the water for what is believed to be the first time.
Man sets self on fire outside New York court where Trump trial underway
A man set himself on fire on Friday outside the New York courthouse where Donald Trump's historic hush-money trial was taking place as jury selection wrapped up, but officials said he did not appear to have been targeting Trump.
Sask. father found guilty of withholding daughter to prevent her from getting COVID-19 vaccine
Michael Gordon Jackson, a Saskatchewan man accused of abducting his daughter to prevent her from getting a COVID-19 vaccine, has been found guilty for contravention of a custody order.
Mandisa, Grammy award-winning 'American Idol' alum, dead at 47
Soulful gospel artist Mandisa, a Grammy-winning singer who got her start as a contestant on 'American Idol' in 2006, has died, according to a statement on her verified social media. She was 47.
She set out to find a husband in a year. Then she matched with a guy on a dating app on the other side of the world
Scottish comedian Samantha Hannah was working on a comedy show about finding a husband when Toby Hunter came into her life. What happened next surprised them both.
B.C. judge orders shared dog custody for exes who both 'clearly love Stella'
In a first-of-its-kind ruling, a B.C. judge has awarded a former couple joint custody of their dog.
Saskatoon police to search landfill for remains of woman missing since 2020
Saskatoon police say they will begin searching the city’s landfill for the remains of Mackenzie Lee Trottier, who has been missing for more than three years.
Shivering for health: The myths and truths of ice baths explained
In a climate of social media-endorsed wellness rituals, plunging into cold water has promised to aid muscle recovery, enhance mental health and support immune system function. But the evidence of such benefits sits on thin ice, according to researchers.