Earlier this week, Liberal MP Ruby Dhalla and her family were accused of mistreating some domestic workers. She held a press conference about it earlier today. It was the first time we've seen her since the accusations were levelled against her family. Her lawyer prevented her from answering questions from reporters.
Similarly, Liberal leader Michael Ignatieff has been underground since the accusations came forth until today. He gathered reporters at Convocation Hall in Toronto to say this:
“As leader of the party, it’s tremendously important that every member of Parliament, everybody in public life treats their employees with the utmost respect and that they comply in every detail with federal and provincial law. We’ve been working closely, in my office, with Ruby Dhalla. She has mounted a vigorous defence of the charges made against her. They’re serious charges. We take them very seriously. She’s offered — which I think is a very good thing to do – for the ethics commissioner to establish the facts of the matter and we have given her support as she defends herself. But I want to reiterate the tremendous for my party of us all always treating those who we employ with the respect and that we comply in every respect with all available provincial and federal law and we need to get to the bottom of these allegations quickly, get closure, both for Ms. Dhalla and the young women in question. That’s all I have to say.”
But Ignatieff like Dhalla refused to take reporters questions on the issue.
Here is the text of Dhalla's statement:
The last week has been a difficult and trying time for me and my family. I have always believed that anyone entering my home should be treated with love, care, compassion and respect. As such, the allegations that have been brought forward against me have come as a shock, and have been devastating to my friends, family and supporters.
As a Member of Parliament I am accountable to my constituents and to Canadians. In that spirit, I myself requested a third-party review of the facts of these matters from the Ethics Commissioner on Wednesday night.
I am the daughter of a loving, caring single mother – an immigrant herself. I have seen first-hand and understand the challenges that immigrants and women face in Canada and around the world. I have dedicated a great part of life to working on these issues.
While the allegations made against myself are false and unsubstantiated, I do believe there are specific reforms that must be made to ensure that the live in care giver program protects both caregivers and employers. I am committed to working with the Canadian Care Givers Association and advocacy groups to ensure these reforms are implemented.
Transparency and accountability have always been important to me in my career as an elected official. This is why I have asked the Ethics Commissioner to conduct an investigation to ensure the truth is brought forward and the matter is resolved in a fair and objective manner. I would request the public and the media to please hold judgment and give my family privacy as we go through this due process.
I want to take this opportunity to also thank my constituents and Canadians from across the country for their continued support during this difficult time. It is most appreciated.