Yesterday Newmarket Today published an explosive piece by reporter Joseph Quigley detailing the bullying and harassment meted out by Newmarket-Aurora MPP, Dawn Gallagher Murphy, to her former employees. 

Gallagher Murphy's behaviour is truly shocking. She comes across as a strutting office tyrant, instilling fear in her employees, cracking the whip around the clock.

She is also a hypocrite. The video she posted on YouTube last November in which she brazenly condemned bullying is proof enough.

Jekyll and Hyde

Even though her former office manager, Teena Bogner, who brought an action against the MPP at the Ontario Labour Relations Board, has now settled and will make no further comment, a line-up of up to seven ex-employees are now openly denouncing our Jekyll and Hyde MPP.

What were the terms of the settlement agreed between Teena Bogner and Dawn Gallagher Murphy? Was it simply an apology or was there a financial settlement with no admission of wrongdoing by the MPP? If the latter, who paid? Our bullying, tyrannical MPP, the Progressive Conservative Caucus or the taxpayer?

Last night I asked Teena Bogner for details of the settlement. She told me:

“The terms of a settlement agreement are private and confidential. I have not provided any information or documentation to Newmarket Today, with the exception of a statement: “The matter has been resolved to my full satisfaction”. 

I am unable to comment or provide additional information.”

Public Interest requires disclosure

Unquestionably, the public interest requires disclosure of the details of the settlement. People have been in touch with me since August last year describing Gallagher Murphy’s tyrannical behaviour towards her employees. Yesterday, one of them told me the settlement would probably have a non-disclosure agreement built in and that the details would undoubtedly remain secret between Bogner and Gallagher Murphy. This person urged me not be press Teena Bogner to disclose the terms as “she was a victim too”.

True.

But she also has responsibility towards those other ex-employees who felt the wrath of Gallagher Murphy and developed mental health issues as a consequence.

Domineering and Oppressive

There is no getting away from the fact that I am deeply disappointed in Teena Bogner. In my email to her last night I gently made the point that Gallagher Murphy’s bullying was not an issue between two private individuals. Gallagher Murphy was a public representative, acting in that capacity, when she bullied and harassed Bogner.

It is wholly legitimate to raise concerns about our MPP's fitness for public office.

Newmarket-Aurora's Progressive Conservative MPP is a janus-faced domineering and oppressive bully who should be brought to book.

If not now then when?

We are at the start of an election campaign and things have a habit of coming out.

(Click “read more” below to read my email to Teena Bogner)) 

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Update on 30 January 2025: From Newmarket Today:  Video: Ford defends fellow MPP accused of bullying staff, creating "toxic" workplace

My email to Teena Bogner on 28 January 2025 following the Newmarket Today revelations: 

Hi Teena

You say that you have not provided Newmarket Today with any information or documentation other than the fact that the matter has been resolved to your satisfaction. 

Yet Newmarket Today has a copy of the letter sent by your legal representative to the OLRB. Did you ask your lawyers to send a copy to Newmarket Today? Or did they do it off their own bat without consulting their client (you) first?

I do not consider this to be a private and confidential matter between you and Dawn Gallagher Murphy. It has gone way beyond that given that other ex-employees are now talking to the press about bullying and harassment. I believe the public interest requires you to disclose the terms of the settlement you agreed with the MPP for Newmarket-Aurora.

Gallagher Murphy was not a private individual but a public representative, acting in that capacity, when she bullied and harassed you.

Gallagher Murphy says in her response to your complaint that

“at no time did the applicant (ie you) make any complaint of harassment in convention (sic) of the Caucus’s Harassment Policy or take any acts as contemplated by the Occupational Health and Safety Act.”

I have asked the Ontario Legislative Assembly for sight of the Progressive Conservative Caucus Harassment Policy and they referred me to the PC Caucus. I wrote to the PC Caucus three weeks ago but they have not responded to my request for a copy. It is an elusive document but one which Gallagher Murphy relied upon. Do you have a copy you can send to me?

I ask because it is not just about you and the settlement you have reached with Gallagher Murphy. 

What about the other former employees quoted in this afternoon’s Newmarket Today story? Although you have reached a settlement with Gallagher Murphy you must be concerned about them too. Surely?

Did Gallagher Murphy simply offer an apology? Or did the settlement include any payment to you? And, if so, who paid?

Was it Gallagher Murphy or the PC Caucus? Or the taxpayer?

Gordon