Murray denies sexual harassment claims, apologizes to Pembina Institute
Winnipeg's leading mayoral candidate is apologizing for his leadership style at a previous job, and denying recent sexual harassment allegations.
As initially reported by CBC, Glen Murray is being accused of sexually harassing employees while he was executive director at the Pembina Institute in 2017/2018. Murray says those accusations are false.
"Let me begin by saying in no uncertain terms that allegations reported in the media of sexual harassment are false," said Murray to a crowd of supporters at his campaign office Thursday afternoon.
Murray is also being accused of poor management and erratic behaviour while at the Pembina Institute, a Calgary-based clean energy think tank. He did acknowledge those concerns, saying it was an issue with his management style.
"I was hired to serve as executive director of the Pembina Institute. It was with a mandate to bring significant change and overhaul the organization," said Murray. "It's not uncommon when transitions like this begin, there is often reluctance and opposition in some parts of an organization amongst staff. Pembina was no different."
Murray added that it was also a time of great change in his personal life, which affected his job. "I allowed that pressure to spill over into my work life. I am sorry for this, and I take responsibility," he said.
He said the decision to leave the Pembina Institute was mutual.
"It became clear to the leadership team I served – and to me – that my leadership style, and the way I worked was not a good fit with the culture of the organization," said Murray.
Mayoral candidate Scott Gillingham said Winnipeg's next mayor needs to be better than this.
"Winnipeg is at a critical point in its future, the people of Winnipeg need confidence and certainty in their mayor," he said.
Gillingham said he thought of Winnipeg's 10,000 public service employees when he heard the news. He said whoever becomes the new mayor must look out for city workers.
"They need to have assurance that their workplace is safe. As mayor, I will most certainly make sure that they have an environment they can thrive in, that they can work in, and feel safe in," said Gillingham.
Murray said he is sorry for any stress and tension he caused while leading the Pembina Institute. He remains proud of the work he did there.
"I regret allowing my passion to deliver on my mandate to have clouded my managerial judgement," said Murray.
Winnipeggers go to the polls to choose their new mayor and city council on Wednesday, Oct. 26.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Cargo ship had engine maintenance in port before Baltimore bridge collapse, officials say
The cargo ship that lost power and crashed into a bridge in Baltimore underwent 'routine engine maintenance' in port beforehand, the U.S. Coast Guard said Wednesday.
A Nigerian woman reviewed some tomato puree online. Now she faces jail
A Nigerian woman who wrote an online review of a can of tomato puree is facing imprisonment after its manufacturer accused her of making a “malicious allegation” that damaged its business.
Far North police 'dispatch' polar bear stalking schoolyard
Police and local hunters in an Ontario Far North First Nation community have “dispatched” a polar that was showing abnormal behaviour and treating the area as a hunting ground.
Donald Trump assails judge and his daughter after gag order in N.Y. hush-money criminal case
Donald Trump lashed out Wednesday at the New York judge who put him under a gag order that bars him from commenting publicly about witnesses, prosecutors, court staff and jurors in his upcoming hush-money criminal trial.
Families shocked after Niagara Falls hotel cancels bookings made year in advance of solar eclipse
After having the foresight to book their Niagara Falls hotel rooms more than a year in advance, several families planning to take in the solar eclipse next month were shocked to find out their reservations had been cancelled.
B.C. rescuers face 'high likelihood' of failure to reunite orphaned orca with pod
The race to reunite an orphaned orca calf that’s stuck in a shallow lagoon with a neighbouring pod has entered its fifth day, and a marine scientist says the clock is ticking.
Video shows police interrupting auto theft in progress outside Toronto home
New video footage obtained by CP24 shows the attempted theft of a vehicle in a North York driveway earlier this month that was ultimately interrupted by police.
Majority of Canadians believe in life after death: Angus Reid survey
A new survey from the Angus Reid Institute has found that a majority of Canadians believe in some form of life after death, a proportion that has held steady for decades.
MyPillow, owned by U.S. election denier Mike Lindell, formally evicted from Minnesota warehouse
A court ordered the eviction Wednesday of MyPillow from a suburban Minneapolis warehouse that it formerly used.