EDITOR’S NOTE: A version of this article originally appeared on The Trillium, a new Village Media website devoted to covering provincial politics at Queen’s Park.
Algoma—Manitoulin MPP Michael Mantha will not be returning to the Ontario NDP now that an investigator found allegations of workplace misconduct against him were substantiated, the party revealed on Tuesday.
NDP leader Marit Stiles announced two months into her tenure on Apr. 1 that she had removed Mantha from caucus. He's continued working as an Independent MPP ever since, continuing to regularly attend sittings at Queen's Park and community events.
Mantha "is aware of the Ontario NDP’s recent decision regarding the third-party investigation into allegations of workplace misconduct. Mr. Mantha is currently travelling from Windsor to Elliot Lake after attending a celebration of life for a friend and is unavailable for comment. He will review the information available with his council upon his return and provide further comments," his office told The Trillium in a statement.
The decision to keep Mantha out of NDP caucus is based on the determination made by the investigator that it hired that the complaints of inappropriate behaviour by the MPP in the workplace were substantiated, a party source told The Trillium.
Neither the NDP nor Mantha have said much about the complaints or the investigation. Stiles and Mantha have both said they've kept the details under wraps to protect the privacy of the complainant.
The complainant, Mantha, and "multiple" other witnesses were interviewed by the third-party investigator, the party source said. These interviews, other documents, and a video helped inform the investigator's determination, the party said.
The NDP hasn't disclosed the identity of the investigator. The party source said they work for a firm specializing in workplace misconduct. The party also didn't release its investigation, or a summary of it.
The party announced Stiles' decision to remove Mantha from caucus two days after The Trillium first reported on March 30 that the MPP had been on a "personal leave" from his duties for several weeks. At the time, Mantha hadn't returned to Queen's Park in the New Year. Most MPPs had returned to their regular sitting duties since the legislature resumed on Feb. 21.
Stiles later said that she asked Mantha to take a personal leave in mid-February, shortly after she was told of the allegations against him
About three weeks after being removed from the NDP caucus, Mantha rehired the staffing trio that had worked for him before his expulsion from the party.
Two of the "Mantharays," as the MPP referred to them in an Instagram post in April, had worked for him for most of his almost 12 years as a provincial representative.
As of late-April, Mantha had no plans to leave politics. "We are all served with destinies in our lives and we're all faced with challenges," he told The Trillium at the time.
"And this is one which has demonstrated to me that there is more improvement that I can do as an individual. I will grow. I will become a better person, a better father, (and) a better community member," he added.
Mantha was still considering whether he would run again in 2026, if he'd have to do it as an Independent. Independent candidates tend to face unique challenges when it comes to fundraising, spending and volunteer recruitment. Although very few have won, Bobbi Ann Brady did in Haldimand—Norfolk in 2022. Brady was the longtime executive assistant to the riding's former Progressive Conservative MPP Toby Barrett.
He returned to sit in the house for the first time in 2023 on April 6 to hear NDP MPP Sarah Jama's inaugural speech. Jama won a byelection on March 16 to replace former NDP leader Andrew Horwath as Hamilton Centre's MPP.
Mantha has been a regular at Queen's Park ever since. Over the spring's sittings, he seemed to remain friendly during everyday business with his many of his former New Democrat colleagues.
Before he was removed from the NDP, Mantha served as deputy Opposition whip and the official Opposition critic on mines and natural resources.
Mantha has been an MPP since 2011, winning four consecutive elections for Ontario's New Democrats in the northern Ontario riding of Algoma—Manitoulin.