Ontario PC party removes Kitchener-Conestoga MPP Michael Harris from caucus

The Ontario Progressive Conservative Party says it has removed Kitchener-Conestoga MPP Michael Harris from caucus after a complaint from a former intern and the alleged discovery of text messages "of a sexual nature."

After having initially said he wouldn't run due to a vision condition, Harris issued a written statement Monday evening apologizing for his misconduct.

The party became aware of the allegations on Friday, PC caucus chair Lisa Thompson said in a release.

"The evidence presented to us included a written complaint from 2013 by a former intern about how she had been passed over for employment. There was also a series of text messages from the same time period, between the young intern and the MPP," Thompson wrote.

"These text messages were of a sexual nature. They included a discussion of potential part-time employment, as well as a request for her to send him photos, an invitation for her to meet with him late that evening, and reference to something that may have previously taken place in his legislative office."

Thompson said Harris was asked about the issue during a meeting on Friday, and he "only denied that a 'formal' complaint was ever made."

Thompson said the provincial nominations committee decided to disqualify Harris from being a PC candidate in June's provincial election.

"As a result of this information, a decision has been made to remove Michael Harris, MPP, from the Ontario PC caucus effective immediately," she wrote.

Harris sat with PCs for question period

Harris sat with the party during question period on Monday. In taking questions from reporters afterwards, Thompson did not explain why he was allowed to sit with the party for question period.

She said the caucus was briefed about the situation Monday morning, and she left question period early to learn of the situation.

She repeated that the decision by the party's nomination committee was decisive.

"We are actually taking these allegations very seriously, and we'll be addressing this further this week," she said, adding when it comes to sexual allegations against party members, "Anything less than zero tolerance is unacceptable." 

PC Leader Doug Ford said he became aware of the allegations late Friday night. The nomination committee met and made a decision early Saturday.

"At the first opportunity Vic Fedeli, on my behalf, informed caucus and the speaker that Michael Harris was no longer a member of the PC caucus," Ford said in a statement to CBC News Monday afternoon.

"We have a zero tolerance policy with regard to inappropriate workplace behaviour. This has no place in the PC Party of Ontario."

Liberals, NDP want Ford to explain timeline

Liberal MPP Deb Matthews issued a statement Monday afternoon questioning why it took so long for the party to reveal Harris had been removed from caucus.

"It falls to Mr. Ford to let us know what happened in this specific matter. I believe the right questions are being asked about the timeline that lead to Mr. Harris being removed from the Conservative caucus," Matthews said.

"This situation and the decisions around communicating it to the public rest with the leader. What did Doug Ford know about it and what decision did he make?"

In her own statement, NDP Leader Andrea Horwath commended the unnamed woman who came forward and also called on Ford to be more clear about how things unfolded.

"Doug Ford needs to explain when he learned of the allegations of Michael Harris's misconduct with an intern, and what role he played in Harris's attempt to cover up it up," she wrote.

Eye condition reason not to run

The news comes just days after Harris, the PC transportation critic, announced he would not be running in the election due to an eye condition called keratoconus.

Harris said Monday on CBC Kitchener-Waterloo's The Morning Edition that he has had the condition for nearly 20 years but put off getting a corneal transplant.

But he said a recent scare when he was driving made him decide to have the treatment.

He said he had a long talk with his wife Sarah Harris and his four children about the decision.

"I just said, 'I've got to get this done. I've got to get this fixed,'" Harris said. "I want to be able watch and see my kids grow up." 

He said his decision not to run is because he can't give voters "150 per cent" while undergoing treatment.

'I deeply regret my previous actions,' Harris says

But later Monday, Harris issued a statement apologizing for his behaviour with the woman. He said the texts were sent six years ago.

"It was a mistake," he wrote, saying party officials knew about the texts at the time.

"I deeply regret my previous actions and sincerely apologize to the individual I offended, to the Ontario PC caucus who have always stood behind me, to my constituents and supporters in Kitchener-Conestoga who I have always done my best to represent and to my wife and family."

'I understand the community'

His wife, Sarah, confirmed to CBC News on Monday she is planning to seek the nomination in Kitchener-Conestoga.

"We serve the community as a team," Sarah Harris said in an interview Monday morning. "I've been in this for seven years now with Mike."

She said she asked the party for nomination papers Sunday morning. So far, the response from the community has been positive, she added.

"I look forward to connecting with local PC members in the coming days," she said. "I understand the political arena, and I understand the community."

The Progressive Conservative Party underwent a leadership race after former leader Patrick Brown faced sexual misconduct allegations, which he has denied. The party is now being led by former Toronto councillor Doug Ford.