Commons clerk Charles Robert retiring after being accused of bias, sleeping on the job | 24CA News
Clerk of the House of Commons Charles Robert — who has been accused of political bias and sleeping on the job — is retiring after greater than 42 years engaged on Parliament Hill.
News of his departure comes after the Conservatives referred to as for an exterior investigation into claims Robert broke the cardinal requirement of his function — to stay nonpartisan.
Robert has defended himself from these claims, insisting he has served all parliamentarians of all political stripes with integrity. He introduced this week he is leaving his function on January 13 after greater than 5 years as Commons clerk.
He advised MPs on the Board of Internal Economy (BOIE) on Wednesday that the Commons is rolling out a brand new strategic plan within the new yr and it “should be championed by someone who can carry it through from its beginning to its end.”
“Given this reality, I feel it is an appropriate time for me to step away,” Robert mentioned Wednesday. “I am announcing today that I will retire from the service of the House …
“Though it has not been with out its challenges, serving as your clerk has been an honour and privilege. I’m most pleased with being a part of such a outstanding group …”
It’s not clear if the allegations played any role in the timing of his retirement. Robert has not yet responded to a 24CA News request for comment.
24CA News reported in November 2021 on a series of written complaints and letters to the Speaker that showed five senior managers who worked closely with Robert started raising concerns about his workplace behaviour on behalf of staff members in 2018.
Departing staff members claimed Robert acted in a way that was partial to the Liberals, treated some staff members with disrespect, and was regularly seen sleeping on the job during question period in the chamber, the documents showed.
Allegations about Robert’s performance and treatment of staff were brought to the BOIE last year, according to sources with knowledge of the matter. The BOIE had not addressed the allegations fully before Robert announced his retirement, the sources said.
Since last year, the Conservatives, supported by the Bloc Québécois, have been calling on the BOIE to launch an external probe into allegations that Robert engaged in partisan behaviour in the workplace.
WATCH | House of Commons clerk announces his retirement:
Charles Robert says it’s an “acceptable time for me to step away” so a new strategic plan can be championed from beginning to end by someone else.
Conservative MP and deputy whip Chris Warkentin said his party’s request for an external review “was by no means undertaken.”
“These allegations had been raised by longstanding skilled workers inside his workplace and we consider they need to have been taken critically,” Warkentin said in a media statement to 24CA News.
“Real or perceived, breaching the precept of impartiality will not be solely egregious, however a grave betrayal of all Canadians. “
The office of government House leader Mark Holland said a review conducted in 2018 “discovered with out ambiguity that [Robert] acted professionally and with integrity in all of his service.”
WATCH | House of Commons clerk accused of favouring Liberal government:
24CA News has learned that senior staff have accused Clerk of the House of Commons Charles Robert of partisanship in favour of the Liberal government. The clerk is supposed to offer impartial advice to parliamentarians from all political parties.
That 2018 review did not look into the claims of partisanship that arose later, sources said.
Robert told 24CA News last year that he made significant changes to the office and a group of senior managers resisted that change. He said the “2018 report recognized the state of affairs with respect to occasion of falling asleep within the Chamber and it has since been addressed.”
Conservatives call for changes to appointment process
The Conservatives are now calling for a more “sturdy and clear” appointment process to choose Robert’s replacement. Warkentin said the Liberals used the current process to “rush” Robert’s appointment.
“It is necessary that the federal government learns from this error,” he added.
According to a Hill Times report, former clerk Robert Marleau publicly criticized the approach the Liberal government took to select Robert for the job. Traditionally, the deputy clerk of the House was promoted to replace a departing clerk.
Instead, the Liberal government used a four-person panel composed of representatives from the Prime Minister’s Office, the Privy Council Office and the House leader’s office to select Robert in 2017. Robert was an external appointment; he was serving as the interim clerk of the Senate at the time.
Multiple sources question why the government picked Robert for the role when, at the time of his appointment, he was in a long-term relationship with a Liberal-appointed senator. Robert has said he disclosed his relationship at the time of his selection and appointment.
The PMO has defended the appointment, calling it the result of an “open and merit-based appointment course of.”
MPs recognized Robert’s service
During his speech at the BOIE about his retirement plans, Robert said in French it would be hard to imagine a better way to end his career on Parliament Hill, which saw him employed at the parliamentary library, the House and the Senate before returning to the House as clerk.
He said it’s been quite a journey, one that has reinforced his admiration for our “superb parliamentary system on the coronary heart of our democracy.”
MPs from multiple political parties recognized Robert’s contributions during his lengthy career in both chambers.
Speaker Anthony Rota, Robert’s supervisor, called it a “unhappy day for Parliament” and said the “dedication” Robert has shown “through the years has been excellent.”
“You had been a part of the establishment and I believe that is one thing that may dwell on indefinitely,” said Rota, adding he was losing both a colleague and a friend.
The House of Commons issued a statement about Robert’s retirement. It says he led the administration through “important intervals of transformation,” together with the transfer to West Block throughout building and the launch of hybrid proceedings and e-voting throughout the pandemic.
Robert additionally improved members’ providers, streamlined administrative assist and expanded packages for MPs, together with digital safety, in keeping with the Commons assertion.
