Law Society of Alberta to hold hearing into Shandro's conduct

Lisa Johnson - Yesterday 
Edmonton Journal

Former health minister Tyler Shandro will face a hearing to decide whether he broke the Law Society of Alberta’s code of conduct.


© Provided by Edmonton JournalAlberta Health Minister Tyler Shandro speaks In Calgary on Friday, July 9, 2021.

In 2020, Shandro made headlines for confronting a Calgary doctor in his driveway over a social media post , obtaining personal phone numbers through Alberta Health Services to call at least one doctor, and emailing an individual who tried to contact a company operated by Shandro’s wife .

While Shandro is now the labour and immigration minister following a cabinet shuffle in September, the law society’s three-member conduct committee will investigate complaints about the three incidents during Shandro’s time as health minister, including the allegation that Shandro “attended the private residence of a member of the public, (and) behaved inappropriately by engaging in conduct that brings the reputation of the profession into disrepute.”

A second citation alleges that Shandro used his position as health minister “to obtain personal cellphone numbers, contacted one or more members of the public outside of regular working hours using that information.”

A third alleges Shandro “responded to an email from a member of the public addressed to his wife by threatening to refer that individual to the authorities if they did not address future correspondence to his office as minister of health.”

If the panel finds that Shandro’s conduct deserves sanction, he could be reprimanded, fined, suspended, disbarred or forced to pay the costs of the hearing.

Law Society spokeswoman Colleen Brown said in a statement the society decided to send the citations to a hearing on Jan. 28, although no date has been set for the virtual hearing yet. According to the society’s conduct process , after a complaint is reviewed it can be dismissed or referred to a practice review committee or the conduct committee.

Joseph Dow, Shandro’s press secretary, did not respond to questions about whether Shandro would resign from cabinet in the event of sanctions, but said in an email anyone with a concern against a lawyer can make a complaint with the Law Society of Alberta.

He said two years ago, an anonymous account on social media published a post that encouraged the public to file complaints with the law society.

“Minister Shandro looks forward to resolving the matter through the Law Society of Alberta’s complaint process,” said Dow.

Premier Jason Kenney’s office did not respond to questions about whether Shandro would be asked to resign if sanctioned, NDP Opposition Leader Rachel Notley said Friday the minister should be asked to step aside in light of the citations. The NDP called for Shandro’s resignation in 2020 following the incidents that are now the subject of the law society’s investigation.

“It’s kind of a standing position for us that this minister is not really equipped to function in cabinet,” said Notley.

lijohnson@postmedia.com

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