Report on UPEI harassment allegations describes 'dire' problems, need for 'urgent action'

The authors of a third-party review looking into allegations of workplace misconduct at the University of Prince Edward Island has concluded the university "has failed to create a safe, respectful, and positive environment for working and learning for all members of its community."

In its report, released in a redacted form Wednesday, the firm of Rubin Thomlinson described "dire" problems on campus that it said "should raise alarm bells and spark urgent action."

The firm was hired after former UPEI president Alaa Abd-El-Aziz quit in December of 2021. Abd-El-Aziz's resignation came after fresh allegations of misconduct were brought forward against him; he had been the subject of two previous complaints years earlier.

But Rubin Thomlinson's investigation into those allegations is not included in the report UPEI made public Wednesday. A separate report on that investigation was finalized on April 28 and provided to the university, but has not been made public.

Insofar as the public report speaks to the allegations against Abd-El Aziz, the authors said that because of the university's use of non-disclosure agreements with complainants who came forward, "we are unable to answer a key question that arises as part of our mandate: Did the former President engage in repeated sexual misconduct?"

Two complainants who came forward with allegations of sexual harassment against Abd-El-Aziz in 2013 were unable to be released from their NDAs despite extensive negotiations among the parties involved.

Thus, Rubin Thomlinson said it could not "provide the University with a clear picture of the former President's behaviour or [UPEI's] response to it."

Overall the report confirms prior allegations, some reported by CBC News in 2021, of a workplace environment "that is toxic, where bullying and harassment is widespread and condoned at an institutional level."

The report describes policies at the university to deal with harassment which are almost two decades out of date, and not compliant with provincial law including the Human Rights Act or the Workplace Harassment Regulations under P.E.I.'s Occupational Health and Safety Act.

The report recommends that the university's board of governors "publicly acknowledge that there is a serious problem at the University and undertake and set out its plan to fix it."

The board was quick to release a statement to the university community after the report's release on Wednesday. 

"Although the report is not specific as to when events occurred, it does recount troubling incidents and expresses important concerns about the need for improved policies and procedures on harassment, discrimination, and unfair treatment," the statement said in part. 

"We deeply regret that, as an institution, we have not always lived up to our values, particularly in the time period covered by the review. We must do better, and we will. We will to continue to work hard to create a safe, respectful, and positive environment for all members of the UPEI community."

More to come.