Former senator Don Meredith charged with sexual assault
A former Canadian senator is facing sexual assault charges in connection with incidents that allegedly took place nearly a decade ago.
In a press release issued on Saturday, Ottawa police said Don Meredith, 58, of Toronto, is charged with three counts of sexual assault and one count of criminal harassment in connection with alleged incidents in 2013 and 2014, which police say were reported by an adult woman.
An Ottawa police source tells CTV News the man charged is the former senator.
Meredith was charged Saturday and released on a promise to appear in court.
Conservative Prime Minister Stephen Harper appointed Meredith, a Pentecostal minister, to the Senate in 2010. Meredith was expelled from the Conservative caucus in 2015 when allegations of inappropriate behaviour surfaced. He later joined the Independent Senators Group as member of its chamber coordination team, but was removed from a leadership position within that group in 2017.
Meredith resigned in 2017 following an ethics committee report that declared him unfit to serve over allegations he had developed an extra-marital relationship with a 16-year-old girl that eventually became sexual—once shortly before she turned 18 and twice afterwards.
Meredith acknowledged the affair, but insisted he did not have intercourse with the girl until after she turned 18. He resigned before an expected attempt to expel him from the Red Chamber.
CTV News Ottawa reached out to the lawyer who represented Meredith as a senator but has yet to receive a reply.
Meredith was also found by the Senate’s ethics officer, in a report released after his resignation, to have created a toxic workplace environment by harassing, bullying, and threatening staff. In 2020, the senate paid his former staffers $498,000 in compensation.
Ottawa police say they are concerned there may be other victims and are asking anyone with information to contact them at 613-236-1222 ext. 5944, or by calling Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
BREAKING King Charles' cancer treatment progressing well, says Buckingham Palace
King Charles III’s doctors are 'sufficiently pleased' with his cancer treatment and he is expected to return to public-facing duties, Buckingham Palace announced on Friday.
Orca calf that was trapped in B.C. lagoon for weeks swims free
An orca whale calf that has been stranded in a B.C. lagoon for weeks after her pregnant mother died swam out on her own early Friday morning.
'Unacceptable': Trudeau reacts after AFN chief says headdress taken from plane cabin
After the Assembly of First Nations' national chief said her headdress was taken from an airplane cabin this week, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau called the incident 'unacceptable' and a 'mistake' on the part of Air Canada.
Regina police officer injured after being accidentally shot by fellow officer's gun
An investigation is underway after a Regina police officer was accidentally shot by a fellow officer’s gun during the search of a house early Friday morning.
Sophie Gregoire Trudeau on navigating post-political life, co-parenting and freedom
Sophie Gregoire Trudeau says there is 'still so much love' between her and Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, as they navigate their post-separation relationship co-parenting their three children.
DEVELOPING Bird flu outbreaks: WHO weighs in on public health risk
The current overall public health risk posed by the H5N1 bird flu virus is low, the World Health Organization said on Friday, but urged countries to stay alert for cases of animal-to-human transmission.
Taylor Swift dons Montreal designer's dress in 'Fortnight' video
A pair of Montreal designers' work has now been viewed over 41 million times. Taylor Swift dons a Victorian throwback black gown in her latest music video, 'Fortnight', designed by UNTTLD due Simon Belanger and Jose Manuel Saint-Jacques.
From faulty kids' cribs to flammable kids' bathrobes, here are the recalls of the week
Health Canada issued recalls for various items this week, including kids’ bathrobes, cribs and henna cones.
Island near Mull of Kintyre for sale for US$3.1 million
An idyllic 453-acre private island is up for sale off the west coast of Scotland and it comes with sandy beaches, puffins galore, seven houses, a pub, a helipad and a flock of black-faced sheep.