Toronto: Canada's Liberal opposition party suspended two of its Members of Parliament after two female members from a rival party accused them of personal misconduct.
Liberal leader Justin Trudeau said today he removed Massimo Pacetti and Scott Andrews because their accusers, one of whom approached him personally, deserve the benefit of the doubt. Details of the accusations were not made public.
A Parliamentary source familiar with the matter said the accusers are Members of Parliament with the New Democratic Party.
The official spoke on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to speak publicly.
Trudeau said Pacetti and Andrews are denying the allegations, which he would only describe as "serious" allegations of "personal misconduct."
"We have a duty to protect and encourage individuals in these situations to come forward," Trudeau told a news conference in Ottawa.
"The action must be fair, but decisive. It must be sensitive to all affected parties, but recognizing how difficult it is to do so, it must give the benefit of the doubt to those who come forward."
Pacetti, 52, and Andrews, 38, didn't immediately respond to messages seeking comment.
Trudeau asked House of Commons Speaker Andrew Scheer to investigate.
New Democratic Leader Tom Mulcair said he was "deeply saddened by these serious allegations."
Ottawa Police spokesman?Chuck Benoit said they are not investigating and no one has complained.
The suspension follows shocking sexual assault and harassment allegations against former Canadian Broadcast Corp. star radio host Jian Ghomeshi.
The Ghomeshi case has rocked the Canadian public broadcaster, a vaunted Canadian institution. Police are investigating.
