OTTAWA -- Justice Minister Peter MacKay says there's the potential for something positive to emerge from the high-profile allegations of sexual violence and personal misconduct in the headlines lately.
MacKay, , was asked about the allegations of serious personal misconduct made against two Liberal MPs and the accusations of sexual violence made against former CBC host Jian Ghomeshi.
"If there was anything positive to have come from these revelations, and there's very little frankly given the seriousness of the allegations, but it would be that I think there's a very mature discussion happening now in the country," MacKay said.
"It has elevated the public consciousness of the importance of stamping out harassment and addressing it head on, bringing it somewhat out of the shadows and making necessary adjustments."
MacKay said those changes could happen in the area of criminal law, justice reform or through changes to practices and protocols in individual workplaces.
The House of Commons will have to consider changes to its practices and protocols following the suspension from the Liberal caucus of MPs Scott Andrews and Massimo Pacetti. The allegations against them have been described as serious personal misconduct involving two female NDP MPs.
The closed-door Commons committee called the Board of Internal Economy is set to discuss the matter later this month. Currently, there is no complaint or resolution mechanism for cases of harassment or misconduct involving MPs.
Neither the nature of the misconduct nor the names of the complaining MPs have been released. Liberal Leader Justin Trudeau has said both men deny they did anything wrong.
As many as nine women have alleged in media reports that they experienced "abusive behaviour" by Ghomeshi, who was fired by the CBC last month. He has launched a lawsuit against the public broadcaster.
Ghomeshi has said he has engaged in rough sex, but that it was always consensual. He has vowed to meet the allegations "directly."
