The former Manitoba NDP chief of staff accused of ignoring women's complaints of harassment by a cabinet minister has been placed on a leave of absence by Ontario's NDP leader. Balagus served as the chief of staff under the Manitoba NDP from 2003 to 2012 and is seen as the architect behind the NDP's last two election victories, in 2007 and 2011. On Thursday, CBC News published a story in which five women alleged they were subjected to unwanted touching by Struthers, a former Manitoba finance minister. Former NDP cabinet minister Stan Struthers has apologized after five women told CBC News they were subject to unwanted touching or tickling from him. She told CBC on Thursday that she told Balagus directly about her concerns with the handling of her complaint about Struthers when she outlined the reasons she was quitting her job.

Source: CBC News February 09, 2018 21:53 UTC