‘We were sickened’: P.E.I. premier and cabinet react to UPEI report, commit to address toxicity, bullying
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CHARLOTTETOWN, P.E.I. — P.E.I. Premier Dennis King says he’s “sickened” by a latest report detailing a tradition of bullying and toxicity at UPEI.
Talking throughout query interval on June 15, King pledged to exert strain on the management at UPEI to make sure the problems recognized within the report, ready by Rubin Thomlinson, are addressed.
King additionally mentioned he would discover it tough to suggest UPEI as an establishment to his personal youngsters.
The remarks got here the day UPEI introduced Jackie Podger, the vp of administration and finance, is on administrative go away.
Podger had labored intently with former UPEI president Alaa Abd-El-Aziz and had been his first hire at UPEI after he moved to the college after serving on the College of British Columbia.
UPEI’s announcement got here a day after the discharge of the report.
King was responding to questions posed by Liberal MLA Gord McNeilly and by Inexperienced MLA Karla Bernard.
McNeilly mentioned the report was “scathing” and painted an image of a poisonous surroundings at UPEI, together with frequent incidents of racism, sexism, ableism and homophobia.
The report was commissioned in January 2022 following public allegations of sexual misconduct levelled in opposition to Abd-El-Aziz. The report didn’t present particulars on the allegations in opposition to Abd-El-Aziz, on account of non-disclosure agreements signed by the affected events.
A separate report detailing the outcomes of these allegations has not been made public by UPEI.
“What steps will your division be taking to intervene at UPEI, if any, to make sure that most of these conditions by no means occur once more?” McNeilly requested.
King mentioned his cupboard had mentioned the report earlier within the morning.
“Like all people else, we have been sickened to learn the report that was launched yesterday by UPEI and the way it erodes the belief, confidence and religion that we have to have in an establishment as essential as UPEI,” King mentioned.
He mentioned he would meet with the college’s interim president later within the day, together with Jenn Redmond, minister of superior studying, and Natalie Jameson, minister answerable for the standing of ladies.
“I wish to know precisely how they’re treating this report. I wish to know what their urgency is in making the adjustments that have to be made instantly,” King mentioned.
“We have made it recognized via employees, however we’ll be making it recognized in our assembly at this time that we are going to not be standing by and permitting this to occur any longer. We’d like UPEI to do higher.”
King spoke to reporters later within the day about his assembly with interim UPEI president Dr. Greg Keefe and board of governors chair Pat Sinnott.
King mentioned the assembly was “productive” as a result of Keefe and Sinnott each understood the findings of the Rubin Thomlinson report back to be the “worst disaster to hit the college in its historical past.”
King mentioned the province can be appointing an impartial auditor to supervise and report on the implementation of the report’s suggestions. He mentioned he anticipated to see weekly updates on progress.
“As a father or mother of somebody who now has children who’re establishments like UPEI, if my son requested me at this time, would UPEI be someplace I ought to be contemplating, it might be arduous for me to suggest that at this time.” – Premier Dennis King
He additionally mentioned the province can be formalizing its funding settlement with UPEI. An auditor common report in March famous the province lacked formal contracts with UPEI detailing funding expectations on the a part of the province. King mentioned he was additionally open to reviewing the province’s College Act.
The province’s funds, at the moment earlier than the legislature, commits $49 million in working grants to UPEI this yr alone.
Non-disclosure agreements
Throughout query interval, Inexperienced MLA Karla Bernard mentioned the province had did not correctly fund UPEI’s sexual violence prevention and response workplace.
The Rubin Thomlinson report famous that workplace had been underfunded since its inception and had just one staff-member.
King mentioned he was unsure if there was extra for the province to do, past offering core funding to the college.
He additionally mentioned he didn’t wish to “absolve” anybody in authorities for the state of affairs at UPEI.
“As a father or mother of somebody who now has children who’re establishments like UPEI, if my son requested me at this time, would UPEI be someplace I ought to be contemplating, it might be arduous for me to suggest that at this time,” King mentioned.
Bernard additionally famous the province’s Non-Disclosure Agreements Act features a provision that might have allowed people who signed NDAs with UPEI to be launched from them.
A number of sections of the report are additionally redacted, which the authors conceded was on account of NDAs.
“The minister of justice, with the help of his cupboard, restricted the UPEI investigation by not exercising this energy,” Bernard mentioned. “Will he decide to permitting the victims to make disclosures so the investigators can fulfil their mandate for the UPEI investigation?”
King appeared to point that this was an avenue the province is contemplating. He famous the report recognized 29 people who had signed NDAs however that UPEI didn’t present investigators with the names of people who had signed them.
“Is there extra alternatives for us to permit for a deeper probe on this? I feel there are. And one of many issues that we might be is what a few of these levers is likely to be – one which you simply referenced,” King mentioned.
King pledged to “completely” guarantee all suggestions of the Rubin Thomlinson report are carried out.
Dennis King describing his assembly with UPEI interim president Greg Keefe and Board of Governors Chair Pat Sinnott. King saying the assembly was “productive” as a result of the 2 understood the Rubin Thomlinson report back to be the “worst disaster to hit the College in its historical past.” #PEI pic.twitter.com/3y1ChOR4iC
— Stuart Neatby (@stu_neatby) June 15, 2023
The feedback throughout query interval adopted the general public launch of a letter penned by the manager of the UPEI College Affiliation. The UPEIFA known as for the “fast resignation” of UPEI board of governors members who have been on the board in 2013 and 2015 when the primary two allegations of sexual misconduct in opposition to Alaa Abd-El-Aziz have been made public.
The Rubin Thomlinson report famous Abd-El-Aziz’ tenure as president of UPEI was renewed in 2015 after the primary allegations have been made.
The investigators mentioned they have been unable to discover the 2013 allegations and the renewal of Abd-El-Aziz’s mandate as a result of they have been “met by obstacles” they may not overcome.
One impediment was that the 2 preliminary complainants weren’t launched from the NDAs they signed with the college.
When requested by reporters whether or not he believes there ought to be additional resignations at UPEI, King mentioned the college wanted to display that it was keen to vary a poisonous tradition.
“I feel to vary the tradition, you might want to change numerous faces. It is arduous to vary tradition should you do not change individuals.”
Stu Neatby is a political reporter with SaltWire in Prince Edward Island. He may be reached by e-mail at [email protected] and adopted on Twitter @stu_neatby.
