Accessibility commissioner asked to address recommendations of report looking into claims he mistreated staff

Justice Minister Arif Virani has asked the country's first accessibility commissioner to address the recommendations coming out of an external investigation into claims that he mistreated staff at the Canadian Human Rights Commission.

The third-party investigation into Michael Gottheil, which cost taxpayers more than $230,000, is complete and the final report has been issued to Virani, says the Department of Justice.

The commission told CBC News in a statement that Gottheil «will be continuing in his role.»

The government hired consulting firm Quintet Consulting to investigate more than a year ago after a handful of employees raised concerns about Gottheil's conduct in 2022.

The staffers said Gottheil had a «toxic impact» on the workplace and claimed they were in a «psychologically and unsafe work environment» but did not provide specific examples, according to a letter CBC News has viewed.

Virani's office wouldn't say what the investigation found or recommended. It said it would not comment in order to protect the «integrity of the process.»

In a statement issued to CBC News, a Department of Justice spokesperson said the minister «has provided direction to the [commission] and Mr. Gottheil to address the recommendations made in the report.»

Gottheil did not respond to requests for comment. His lawyer Peter Engelmannsaid his client «responded to the workplace concerns raised with him by participating in and meeting the expectations» of the government's review process. He said Gottheil and everyone else involved signed a confidentiality agreement.

«Mr. Gottheil participated fully and honestly in the Quintet investigation and he has kept his commitments,» Engelmann said in a media statement.

«He will continue to respect the