By Canadian Press

Senate shifts rules for Meredith victim compensation process

Aug 6, 2020 | 8:28 AM

OTTAWA — The Senate says harassment victims of disgraced former senator Don Meredith can now have lawyers when speaking to an independent evaluator hired to determine potential compensation for them, and also that their legal costs might be covered.

This is a partial reversal in the rules set by the Upper Chamber and comes two days after two former Meredith employees went public, calling the evaluation process “totally unacceptable.”

The two women told The Canadian Press Tuesday they felt they were being bullied by the Senate into taking part in a compensation process that is unfair and opaque.

Among their concerns were stipulations saying they were not to use lawyers when speaking with the independent evaluator, former Quebec appeals court judge Louise Otis, because the evaluation is not a trial or a judicial hearing.

They were also told in a letter from the Senate’s own lawyer that if they did seek legal advice to help them prepare submissions or testimony, their costs would be their own “personal responsibility.”

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In a statement issued today, the Senate’s powerful internal economy committee says it wished to provide “additional information” about the process, clarifying that lawyers for the employees may now accompany them and that their legal expenses might be reimbursed if Otis recommends this as part of her final determination on compensation.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published Aug. 6, 2020.

The Canadian Press