In a statement of defence, Alberta Premier Jason Kenney has denied his office has a toxic work environment..Ariella Kimmel, a former ministerial chief of staff, in a lawsuit detailed her time in a “poisoned work environment” and spoke of sexual harassment and the excess drinking she witnessed while working in the legislature under Kenney’s government..Kimmel has worked with the UCP government since May 2019, most recently as the chief of staff to the minister of jobs, economy and innovation from August 2020 until she was fired in February..The statement of claim says Kimmel witnessed Agriculture and Forestry Minister Devin Dreeshen drinking with other ministers and staff and appeared “heavily intoxicated.”.Dreeshen later resigned from his post..Kimmel had an on-and-off relationship with Dreeshen prior to being appointed chief of staff in 2020, the CBC report said..None of her allegations have been proven in court..“The [office] investigated and took action with respect to any harassment complaint which was brought forward during the term of the plaintiff’s employment,” the statement of defence reads..CBC reported the statement says policies and procedures on harassment were in place, and in September 2020, all of the premier’s office and ministerial staff were told they needed to complete online respect in the workplace training. .“[We] could not discuss with the plaintiff the details of any concerns raised by others as those details were the personal information of those involved,” says the statement..The statement agrees Kimmel is entitled to $29,541 for pay in lieu of notice..The statement is asking that the lawsuit be dismissed with costs..Kimmel’s lawyer, Kathryn Marshall, told CBC she will be filing a final reply to the defence, after which witnesses will be subpoenaed. .“I’m looking forward to cross-examining Premier Jason Kenney,” she said. .Kimmel alleges after expressing her concern about how much Dreeshen had been drinking, she was confronted by the minister who “aggressively yelled at her to the point where she was in tears and a concerned bystander intervened.”.The statement also points to another incident two days later where another group was drinking in the minister of health’s office. Kimmel alleges the minister’s principal advisor, Ivan Bernardo, made sexually inappropriate comments to one of her female staff members..Kimmel claims her report of the exchange to Chris Thresher, chief of staff in health, and the premier’s director of issues management, Matt Wolf, went unanswered for close to a month..On November 17, Kimmel was asked to meet with Kenney’s principal secretary, Larry Kaumeyer, where she shared her interaction with Dreeshen and the sexual harassment by Bernardo..Kimmel said she was told by Kaumeyer that Bernardo was “not going to be fired,” but would be leaving his position at the end of the year anyway. Kimmel said her other concerns were not addressed. Kaumeyer is no longer working in the premier’s office..Kimmel was terminated on February 5 even though she has been told by Kaumeyer she would not be fired for bringing her concerns forward. She is seeking more than $399,000 for damages and the salary owed to her until her contract would have expired in May 2023..Damages Kimmel is claiming in the lawsuit include: “poisoned work environment, fabricating and spreading rumours against her, failing to implement a robust sexual harassment policy, terminating her employment in reprisal, causing mental distress and reputational harm, and affecting her future employment opportunities.”.Kenney’s office started an independent review of its HR policies for political staff in the wake of the lawsuit.
