Marcel Aubut finishes in Olympic-sized trouble » President of COC resigns after harassment allegations Mercedes Deutscher News Editor MS news@theotherpress.ca Me Aubut, president of the Canadian Olympic Committee (COC), has resigned from his position following several allegations of sexual harassment made toward him. The Globe and Mail reported on September 30 that a female staff member had made a complaint of alleged sexual harassment by Aubut to the COC. Since the complaint has been made public, two other staff members have also come forward. One of the victims, Amelia Salehabadi-Fouques, is a member of Soccer Canada’s Board of Directors. Salehabadi- Fouques is also married and has three children. She told CTV that Aubut has harassed her on several occasions. One of these occasions was four years ago, when Aubut invited her to a dinner under the pretense that there would be a business meeting. However, the conversation turned to her : personal life, and took a sour : turn after the dinner. “IT was so shocked, because : he kissed me,” Salehabadi- : Fouques told CTV. “It was : outside the restaurant, we : were walking out and I was so : surprised that I couldn't react. : I never in a hundred years : thought a man would do that, : so I was really under shock. : He wanted me to go with him : somewhere but I just took a cab : and went home.” Over the next few years, : Aubut allegedly continued to : harass Salehabadi-Fouques, : including proposing sexual : relations to her while her and : her teenage son were attending : a soccer game, as well as inviting : her to a gala and trying to coerce : her into sharing a hotel with : him. Aubut stepped aside immediately when the : allegations were brought to : light, and formally resigned on : October 3. “Although I assume full responsibility for my effusive : and demonstrative personality, : I would like to reiterate that : never intended to offend or : upset anyone with my remarks or my behaviour,” he said ina : statement made to Newswire. : “T realize that my attitude : could at times be perceived as : questionable by some women : and could have caused them to : feel uncomfortable.” The COC has launched two : third-party investigations. One, : regarding the first complaint, : will be conducted by Francois : Rolland, former chief justice : of the Quebec Superior Court. : The second investigation will : concern the two most recent : allegations, along with any other : allegations that may be made in : the near future. It has not yet : been determined who will head : this investigation. “We would like to thank the : complainant for their incredible : courage in coming forward,” : the COC said in a statement, : as reported in the Globe and : Mail. “The independent third : party process investigating any : other complaints will continue : uninterrupted. We hope that : anyone who has concerns will : contact us.” Marcel Aubut, President, Canadian Olympic Committee (CNW Group/Canadian Olympic Committee) Unexpected events at Port Coquitlam debate » Local debate brings exciting ideas and feuds Jerrison Oracion fim Senior Columnist his year’s federal election is a three-way race between the Conservative Party, the New Democratic Party, and the Liberal Party, and anyone could win on election day. Many questions that may help undecided voters are answered in debates, as was seen in the riding of Coquitlam-Port Coquitlam. Coquitlam-Port Coquitlam is one of the new names of Port Moody-Westwood-Port Coquitlam. That riding has been replaced with Coquitlam- Port Coquitlam and Coquitlam- Port Moody. It has been held by James Moore, the Minister of Commerce, in recent years. Earlier this year, James Moore announced that he will not be running in the election this year in order to take care of his family. This means that Port Coquitlam will be electing a new MP. This year’s candidates for Coquitlam-Port Coquitlam are Douglas Horne for the Conservative Party, Sara Norman for the NDP, Ron McKinnon for the Liberal Party, Brad Nickason for the Green Party and Lewis Clarke Dahlby : for the Libertarian Party. The All Candidates Debate : took place in the Terry Fox : Theater on September 29 and : was moderated by Kevin Lim, : a co-host of the 102.7 The : Peak morning show and a Port : Coquitlam native. Candidates debated on : various topics including the : environment, parks and : recreation, local government, : post-secondary institutions, : and seniors. In the opening : remarks, Horne acknowledged : all the great things that James : Moore did in the riding despite : the criticism he received from the public. There were various : mishaps throughout the : debate. When Dahlby was : : about to run out of time talking : : about infrastructure, some : : audience members reacted : to his response. Additionally, : a comment he made about : the environment led to an : argument between all of the : candidates, which eventually : involved the audience. Lim said, : : “I feel like ’m watching Jerry : Springer.” Norman and Horne made : several arguments throughout the debate. An example of this : was when Horne said that the : people that need affordable Image by Thinkstock : housing need support, and : Norman connected this : comment with a reference to : the treatment of veterans in the : country. The debate ended with the Mayor of Port Coquitlam, : Greg Moore, asking the : candidates if they will accept a : pledge to act on various election : issues. All except for Dahlby : accepted the pledge.