Corey O'Soup, the Youth Child Advocate for Saskatchewan, released a special report examining the causes and calls to action surrounding youth suicide on Dec. 5, 2017 in La Ronge. (Bryan Eneas/paNOW Staff)

By CKOM News Staff

Child advocate suspended following harassment investigation

Jun 27, 2019 | 5:53 PM

The province’s advocate for children and youth has been suspended after multiple complaints of harassment.

Corey O’Soup was suspended from his duties Thursday afternoon following an investigation into multiple complaints of harassment, a media release said.

The province’s board of internal economy announced the suspension, and said the investigation was conducted by an independent investigator “with extensive experience investigating harassment complaints.”

The media release said that under the Legislative Assembly Act, individuals appointed as independent officers of the legislative assembly may only be removed by a vote of members of the Legislative Assembly.

“Harassment cannot be tolerated in any workplace, and certainly not in the office of a statutory officer of the Assembly,” said Mark Docherty, the speaker of the Legislative Assembly in the release. “I want to assure the staff members of the advocate’s office, and of all statutory offices, that we support their right to work in a safe and respectful environment. I fully intend to bring this matter before the Assembly at the earliest opportunity in its next sitting.”

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Provincial ombudsman Mary McFadyen has been appointed interim advocate for children and youth.

“Ms. McFadyen is uniquely positioned to serve as Interim Advocate, given the historical linkage between the two roles. I am confident that under her leadership, the rights of Saskatchewan’s children and youth will be well-protected,” Docherty said in the release.

The advocate for children and youth is a statutory officer of the Legislative Assembly of Saskatchewan. The position advocates for the rights, interests, and well-being of children and youth in the province.