The reaction to "
Nannygate," as it's been dubbed by some, remains split. Some are sure Brampton-Springate Liberal MP Ruby Dhalla is innocent. Others doubt her veracity. And a few simply don't know what to make of it all.
Liberal leader Michael Ignatieff has no such qualms. He believes his friend will be proven innocent of all the allegations. "She has a right to defend herself and she needs to be given the chance to present the facts on this matter and so we wait clarity on the facts because I as a leader can't act simply on the basis of newspaper headlines and allegations, I have to work on the basis of facts."
Dhalla is accused of exploiting three caretakers who worked for her family, by paying them next to nothing and forcing them to toil for long hours doing menial jobs.
What do her constituents think about all this? "I think she does deserve a fair chance," suggests Tania Yanez. "If these things are proven true, then she shouldn't be where she is."
"Just the fact that it keeps coming out in the press, it's going to damage her reputation," adds Brian Sheffield.
Conservative candidate Parm Gill, who lost to Dhalla by less than a thousand votes in the 2008 federal election, says the story has put new wind beneath his political wings, and he intends to challenge her again when the opportunity comes.
Will the scandal cause residents to consider voting for someone else? "I think I will yes," concedes one future ballot-caster. "Because her whole platform was on fairness to immigrants."
"It's very hard to even think about voting for a Liberal the next time," agrees Alicia Shaw.
Meanwhile, some are using the controversy to try to improve the lot of newcomers to Canada. One group maintains the situation the workers are describing is very typical for many new immigrants in the province.
"I don't think the people who came forward had a motive to tarnish someone," believes Agatha Mason of Intercede Toronto, a non-profit organization whose
website says is designed to "promote the rights of domestic workers, caregivers, temporary or migrant workers."
"I just think when you are in a situation that demands that you set an example that you are cautious in terms of the choices that you make."
The scandal, which is quickly becoming a political tornado, has now swirled around Ontario Labour Minister Peter Fonseca, who met with the caregivers several weeks ago but allegedly failed to act, sparking accusations of a cover-up.
"They told the Minister of Labour in the province of Ontario the most outrageous stories of mistreatment, clear violations of the Employment Standards Act," contends NPP MPP Peter Kormos. "What did the Minister of Labour do? He gave them a brochure with an 800 number. The number was not operating. Shameful, shameful, shameful. He should have ensured his investigators began an investigation immediately."
Fonseca, like Dhalla, has denied any wrongdoing but is so far unable to explain what may have happened.