Accessibility commissioner asked to address recommendations of report looking into claims he mistreated staff

Justice Minister Arif Virani has asked the country's first accessibility commissioner to address the recommendations coming out of an external investigation into claims that he mistreated staff at the Canadian Human Rights Commission.

The third-party investigation into Michael Gottheil, which cost taxpayers more than $230,000, is complete and the final report has been issued to Virani, says the Department of Justice.

The commission told CBC News in a statement that Gottheil "will be continuing in his role."

The government hired consulting firm Quintet Consulting to investigate more than a year ago after a handful of employees raised concerns about Gottheil's conduct in 2022.

The staffers said Gottheil had a "toxic impact" on the workplace and claimed they were in a "psychologically and unsafe work environment" but did not provide specific examples, according to a letter CBC News has viewed.

Virani's office wouldn't say what the investigation found or recommended. It said it would not comment in order to protect the "integrity of the process."

In a statement issued to CBC News, a Department of Justice spokesperson said the minister "has provided direction to the [commission] and Mr. Gottheil to address the recommendations made in the report."

Gottheil did not respond to requests for comment. His lawyer Peter Engelmann said his client "responded to the workplace concerns raised with him by participating in and meeting the expectations" of the government's review process. He said Gottheil and everyone else involved signed a confidentiality agreement.

"Mr. Gottheil participated fully and honestly in the Quintet investigation and he has kept his commitments," Engelmann said in a media statement.

"He will continue to respect the integrity of this process going forward."

Last year, in a separate matter, a Senate report warned of a "crisis of confidence" after racialized staff at the Canadian Human Rights Commission (CHRC) reported anti-Black racism in the workplace.

The government recently issued a new directive to improve its vetting process for governor-in-council appointees after admitting it failed to vet controversial social media posts by the CHRC's incoming chief commissioner. Now, all candidates' online aliases must be reviewed and shared with the Canadian Security Intelligence Service, the RCMP and the Canada Revenue Agency during background checks, the Privy Council Office said.

Gottheil was given a five-year term in 2022 as a governor-in-council (GIC) appointee on the recommendation of former minister of justice David Lametti. His appointment was described by the federal government at the time as a "historic" effort to make Canada more inclusive and barrier-free.

As a GIC appointee, Gottheil is expected to uphold "the highest standards of probity" and treat everyone in the workplace with "respect, equality and dignity" at all times, according to the terms and conditions of his appointment. Appointees "serve during good behaviour" and may only be removed for cause, the terms say.