Open letter urges Senator Don Meredith to resign over relationship with teen

After a weekend of silence, Senator Don Meredith is facing renewed pressure to step down from the Red Chamber in the wake of a scathing report about his sexual relationship with a teenage girl.

In an open letter obtained by CBC News, Senator Andre Pratte begged Meredith to leave quickly, for the sake of his colleagues. 

"I am writing to plead with you to resign from the Senate as soon as possible," the letter says. "If you do not, I am afraid you will do yourself and, most importantly, the institution, unnecessary and lasting harm."

• Senators urge Don Meredith to resign after 'disgusting' relationship with teenage girl

On Thursday, the Senate's ethics watchdog issued a critical report, finding Meredith violated Senate rules for having a relationship with a 16-year-old girl. 

"The Senate Ethics Officer's report about what happened 2-3 years ago is as damning as it is thorough. The fact that throughout the inquiry you have not been cooperative adds to the injury," Pratte wrote in the letter that was sent to all members of the Senate.

"As a Senator, and as a man, your conduct was unconscionable. Although you have since taken "remedial steps", you have not issued an apology, to your victim, to the Senate or to Canadians, which you should have done long ago."

Meredith has not responded to multiple requests for an interview. But when CBC News visited his Richmond Hill, Ont., home, a woman who refused to identify herself said Meredith has no plans to resign.

Pratte told CBC News that Meredith has not responded to the letter.

Not 'fit to serve'

The letter compares Meredith's situation to that of former Justice Robin Camp, who is known as the "knees together judge."

Camp resigned last week after Canada's judicial watchdog suggested he be removed from the bench over comments he made during a sexual assault trial. 

"The steps taken are far from sufficient to reestablish the public's and your colleagues' confidence in your ability to uphold the 'highest standards of dignity' required of a member of Senate by our Code of Ethics," says Pratte's letter. "In any event, as the Canadian Judicial Council remarks in the recent Robin Camp case, even 'sincere apologies and extensive education' sometimes 'do not adequately repair the damage caused to public confidence.'"

Pratte ends the letter by urging Meredith to think of his family and make a decision quickly.

Should Senator Don Meredith be forced to resign?

8 years ago

Duration 7:23

'What we're dealing with here is personal conduct, very private moments of his life,' says Senator Anne Cools of Meredith's sexual relationship with a teenager.

"If you sincerely admit to your mistakes, persons of good will and of faith will forgive you; I certainly will. Hopefully, you and your family will be able to rebuild your lives together. But that will not render you fit to serve as a member of the Senate of Canada. In my mind, you have lost that ability forever.

"Please, Senator Meredith, do the right thing. For you, and for the Senate, an institution which I am sure you love deeply and whose reputation has suffered enough already."

Committee to discuss Meredith's fate

The standing committee on ethics and conflict of interest for senators will now assess the report on Meredith's behaviour. 

According to a statement from Shaila Anwar, acting clerk of the committee, it will "...consider the inquiry report as promptly as circumstances permit and recommend the appropriate remedial measures or sanctions to the Senate. Any recommended measures and sanctions become effective once adopted by the Senate.

"The members of the committee will make no comment on the matter of the inquiry report until the committee reports to the Senate."