Released on November 24, 2008
The Saskatchewan government today announced that it will provide $255,000 in additional compensation to the victims of Murdoch Carriere.
Carriere is the former government official who was found to have harassed a number of women employees over the course of several years. He was placed on leave in 2003 and allowed to resign in 2007. Carriere received a severance payment of $275,000 from the previous government.
The $255,000 payment will be paid in trust to the law firm representing the victims. It will be shared among the nine women and also will cover their legal fees.
This afternoon in the Legislative Assembly, the government will introduce a motion of apology to the women. The motion reads:
"That this Assembly apologizes to the victims of Murdoch Carriere for the years of harassment they were forced to endure while in the employ of the Government of Saskatchewan and for the inaccurate description they were provided regarding Carriere's employment status and severance settlement with the Government."
Environment Minister Nancy Heppner will introduce and speak to the motion. She hopes the compensation and apology provides some closure to the women who suffered through this ordeal.
"For too long, the government looked the other way while these women were harassed, and when they finally got caught, they were more interested in looking after Murdoch Carriere than the women he harassed," Heppner said. "These women had the right to expect their employer - the Government of Saskatchewan - to provide them with a safe, harassment-free work environment, and their government failed them.
"I know what we are doing today will not undo these horrible events, but I hope the women involved can take some comfort in the knowledge that our government recognizes and is sorry for the way they were mistreated."
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For more information, contact:
Kathy Young
Executive Council
Regina
Phone: 306-787-0425
Email: kathy.young@gov.sk.ca
Cell: 306-526-8927