Murray denies sexual harassment allegation, apologies for behavior at Calgary non-profit – Winnipeg Free Press

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Winnipeg mayoral candidate Glen Murray is denying allegations of sexual harassment, but apologized for any stress or tension caused during his time in a previous job.

Murray Winnipegs mayor from 1998-2004 was the executive director of Calgary-based clean energy non-profit Pembina Institute from 2017-18. A CBC News investigation into that time published Thursday morning revealed former employees had concerns about his leadership and management abilities and said some behavior including making sexual comments and drinking to excess at company events raised red flags.

While he denied any inappropriate sexual behavior, Murray who was a half-hour late to the Thursday-afternoon news conference he scheduled to respond to the allegations apologized to employees at Pembina Institute who may have been affected by mismanagement.

MIKE DEAL / WINNIPEG FREE PRESS

While he denied any inappropriate sexual behavior, Glen Murray apologized to employees at Pembina Institute who may have been affected by mismanagement.

In my time at Pembina Institute, I was ambitious and working hard on (goals) I thought we all shared as a team, Murray told members of the media and supporters at his campaign office on Portage Avenue several hours after the story was released.

It was also, however, a time of great change in my private life, and it is clear that I allowed that pressure to spill over into my life, he said. I am sorry for this, and I take responsibility.

Past Pembina Institute executive director Ed Whittingham said Murray spoke with him one-on-one about sexual topics on Murrays first day at the job. Duncan Kenyon, who was Pembina Institutes Alberta and oil and gas director at the time, said Murray rubbed against him in a sexual way during a company event in Banff in 2018.

Murray denied he had ever acted in a sexually inappropriate nature with a fellow Pembina employee.

I have always acted with the highest standard and trying to do whats right, he said. Since being approached with questions about my time at Pembina, Ive been going over in my mind every interaction and every opportunity where something could have happened.

Inappropriate management practices, including discussing confidential information openly and being unprepared for crucial company meetings, were brought forward by former Pembina employees and correspondence obtained by CBC News.

The investigation also found that four employees quit the organization over the concerns.

Murray did not take questions after his statement and said he would not be at National Day for Truth and Reconciliation events Friday out of concerns he would draw attention away from the events.

Earlier in the day, Coun. Kevin Klein, one of 11 people running for mayor in the Oct. 26 municipal election, said Murray should withdraw from the race.

The deadline to withdraw has passed.

Scott Gillingham, who was second in a Sept. 23 Probe poll, declined to reveal what he thinks Murray should do.

MIKE DEAL / WINNIPEG FREE PRESS

Mayoral candidate Scott Gillingham thanked the former Pembina Institute employees for coming forward with the “serious allegations of misconduct and harassment.”

That decision is up to Glen Murray and his campaign team, Gillingham said during a press conference at his campaign headquarters at River Avenue and Osborne Street.

Winnipeggers will decide whether Murray is fit to be mayor when they cast their ballots, he said.

Gillingham thanked the former Pembina Institute employees for coming forward with the serious allegations of misconduct and harassment.

Theyve done a service to the voters of Winnipeg, he said. Theres a pattern that seems to follow (Murray) from city to city to city.

Gillingham said he thought of City of Winnipeg staff when he learned of the allegations against Murray.

Their workplace must be safe and respectful, he said.

Klein said he hopes the situation encourages people to do their research before they vote.

You need to dig deep into somebodys resume and ask, Can this person manage the city? – Kevin Klein

You need to dig deep into somebodys resum and ask, Can this person manage the city? he said.

Pembina board chair David Runnalls, who told CBC News he had no knowledge of any harassment claims made against Murray at that time, presented Murray with a termination notice after a series of senior staff interviews and a staff survey about Murrays management in August 2018. Murray opted to resign Sept. 9, 2018 and formally left the organization the following day, according to correspondence obtained by CBC News.

The Pembina Institute declined to comment on the allegations.

According to a Probe Research poll published Sept. 23, Murray is the leading candidate in the Oct. 26 mayoral election.

My sincerest apologies to those at Pembina who were affected by my time there as manager, Murray said.

With files from Kevin Rollason

Chris KitchingReporter

As a general assignment reporter, Chris covers a little bit of everything for the Free Press.

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