Complainant in Murdoch Carriere case criticizes government
Last Updated: Monday, March 19, 2007 | 10:45 AM CT
CBC News
Related
Video
- Colleen Underwood reports on a woman who was one of the complainants in the Murdoch Carriere case (Runs: 1:58)
- Play: QuickTime »
- Play: Real Media »
A Saskatchewan woman who was compensated after alleging she was harassed by Murdoch Carriere says she has been mistreated by the government.
The woman said she and eight other women who lodged complaints against the former civil servant were paid $15,000 each in compensation by the provincial government, while Carriere received $275,000.
"At the drop of a hat, they just paid him out a small fortune and us, the victims, we got diddly-squat in the big scheme of things," said the woman, who cannot be identified because of a court-ordered publication ban. "Where's the fairness there?"
Carriere, their boss, the former director of fire management and forest protection in Prince Albert, was fired in 2003 over the allegations.
He sued the province and several newspapers after a government report dealing with the allegations was leaked to the media.
In February, the government paid him $275,000 in an out-of-court settlement. The opposition Saskatchewan Party has attacked the NDP government in the legislature over its handling of the case.
In 2006, Carriere was convicted of assaulting two former employees, but he was found not guilty of two counts of sexual assault.
The woman said she's not only upset with Carriere, but as a loyal employee, she thinks the government has taken advantage of her, too.
No negotiations
"More than half of my life, you know, I've given this government," she said.
She said it's not fair, because while Carriere was able to negotiate his settlement, the government dictated hers.
"We couldn't negotiate a price. We couldn't do anything. 'Take it or leave it,' is what they said to us," she said.
She took the compensation, but said the Carriere situation still haunts her. That's in part because she still works with people she says looked the other way for too long.
"All of his minions are still working out there, all of the people that covered his butt," she said. "That's the one thing that I can't understand. Why they didn't do a total housecleaning?"
While she said the workplace is still unhealthy, she added the healing could start if she received an apology from the people who let the problem continue.
Share Tools
Latest Saskatchewan News Headlines
- Police urge openness in missing persons cases
- Police say when it comes to missing persons investigations, it's crucial to gather as much information as possible and to start searching as soon as possible. more »
- Twitter weighs in on fate of Fantuz
- There's no word yet on where Saskatchewan Roughriders receiver Andy Fantuz is going, but that hasn't stopped the Twitterverse from going into overdrive. more »
- Body found at site of Saskatoon crash, fire
- Following a dramatic semi-truck crash and house fire in Saskatoon, the remains of what is believed to be the driver have been found. more »
- Roughriders land free-agent OL LaBatte
- Brendon LaBatte is returning home. The Saskatchewan native agreed to terms Wednesday with the hometown Roughriders. Contract details weren't immediately divulged but LaBatte's deal will reportedly pay him in the neighbourhood of $200,000 annually. more »
Top News Headlines
- Dog kills newborn in Alberta community
- Officials in Airdrie are revealing few details about the fatal mauling of an infant by a family dog in the southern Alberta city. more »
- Former Expos catcher Gary Carter succumbs to brain cancer
- Hall of Fame catcher Gary Carter, who left an indelible mark on baseball in Canada during his 12 years with the Montreal Expos, died on Thursday. The man nicknamed "Kid" or "Kid Carter" for his ever-smiling face and cheerfulness is free from the inoperable brain cancer that sapped his energy and took his life at age 57. more »
- Underwear bomber sentenced to life in prison
- A Nigerian man who tried to blow up an international flight near Detroit on behalf of al-Qaida has been sentenced to life in prison without parole. more »
- 7 MPs and their fiery quotes
- The election of a majority government was seen by some as a chance for less acrimonious politics on Parliament Hill. But the past week has seen its fair share of inflammatory rhetoric on both sides of the House. more »
- Body found at site of Saskatoon crash, fire
- Baby featured in documentary has brain tumour
- Twitter weighs in on fate of Fantuz
- Who will be Regina's next mayor?
- Police urge openness in missing persons cases
- 2 NDP MPs back final Commons vote to kill gun registry
- Most off-reserve aboriginal kids in excellent health
- Saskatchewan mines for workers at Toronto trade show
- Midale woman dies in Estevan highway crash
