MP Christine Moore suspended over allegations of sexual misconduct

An NDP MP from Quebec is facing sexual misconduct allegations after she levied sexual harassment claims of her own only months ago.

MP Christine Moore has been suspended from caucus duties following an allegation that she provided alcohol to a Canadian veteran who was on antidepressants and painkillers, spent the night with him and sent him explicit texts, all while she was in a “position of authority,” according to the veteran.

In response to a CBC report, NDP leader Jagmeet Singh issued a statement Tuesday saying the MP was suspended, pending an investigation. “I take these allegations very seriously and I will be appointing an independent investigator to conduct a fair and full examination,” the statement said.

In a statement, Moore’s office said, "I welcome the opportunity to participate in the independent and fair examination of these allegations,” and declined to comment further, citing the integrity of the process.

'NOT COMFORTABLE'

In late January, Moore wrote an email to the NDP caucus addressed to Saskatchewan MP Erin Weir, alleging he had harassed female employees. “As a woman, I would not feel comfortable to meet with you alone,” she wrote. “Too many women (mostly employees)” had complained to her that Weir had harassed them, she wrote.

As a result of her email, the NDP investigated Weir and found allegations against him were “sustained” by evidence. He was kicked out of caucus after he spoke out against the investigation’s findings, which according to Singh, showed he wasn’t willing to take responsibility for his actions.

CBC reporter Neil Macdonald called veteran Glen Kirkland after hearing rumours circulating around Ottawa about Moore, and seeing a report in Frank Magazine.

Kirkland, who served as a soldier in Afghanistan, testified before the House of Commons standing committee on defence on June 5, 2013.

According to committee evidence, Kirkland testified that his platoon was ambushed by 120 Taliban fighters, and his vehicle was hit by a rocket, killing three of his fellow soldiers.

“I had to pull myself out while on fire and through gunfire try to extract my dead and dying brothers in arms,” he told committee. “Without trying to sound shocking, I had to wade through human soup while on fire to get everyone out.”

The attack left him with damaged hearing and sight, scars from the fire, shrapnel under his skin, PTSD, and a brain injury that requires him to inject insulin.

Moore questioned him at committee about whether his fiancee was provided with assistance or advice to deal with his injuries and the cost of his insulin pump, mentioning that she was a nurse. He responded that his fiance had “moved on” when he was overseas, and that when he brought up the cost of the pump “it wasn’t a positive experience.”

POWER IMBALANCE

Following the committee hearing, Kirkland told CBC that Moore asked him to come to her office, where she offered him gin. He told her he was on antidepressants and painkillers and wasn’t supposed to drink, but she persisted and he thought it was OK because she was a nurse. After a few drinks, he told CBC she “followed” him back to his hotel, where he alleges they had a sexual encounter.

Weeks later, Kirkland told CBC Moore sent him explicit text messages, and twice showed up to meet him without being invited.

“Look, I’m not crying rape,” he told CBC, but said there was a power imbalance and she was in a position of authority.

He told CTV he is not alleging the encounter was non-consensual.

Moore’s suspension follows a long line of MPs accused of sexual harassment and misconduct across party lines as the Canadian political #MeToo movement continues.

Other than Moore and Weir, allegations on Parliament Hill have included sports minister Kent Hehr, who resigned from cabinet following allegations of inappropriate remarks to a female staffer, former NDP MP Peter Stoffer, who apologized for allegations he forcibly kissed a female staffer, and Liberal MP Francis Drouin, who has denied an allegation of sexual assault at the Liberal convention in April.