"Not five minutes into the lunch the host asked me if I would sleep with him. My assistant almost spit his drink all over the table. I politely told the host that I loved my husband and would never do that."
That is the accusation former Toronto mayoral candidate and publisher of Women's Post, Sarah Thomson made in column she published on Women's Post on Feb. 2.
Entitled "Media personality uses his position to gain sex," the column details Thomson's contention that Steve Paikin, the popular host of TVO's 'The Agenda' and the chancellor of Laurentian University, asked her to have sex with him over lunch in 2010 in front of a witness.
Thomson doesn't name Paikin in the column. Instead, she describes him as the host of a popular political talk show. After appearing on the show with other Toronto mayoral candidates in 2010, Thomson said she reached out to the unnamed host about appearing on his show again. She said he invited her to lunch to discuss it.
Thomson said she brought her assistant with her, who witnessed the entire affair.
TVO itself connected Paikin to Thomson's allegations in a statement the broadcaster issued this morning. A third-party investigation has been launched into the allegations, TVO chief executive officer Lisa de Wilde.
Thomson didn't take Paikin up on his offer, she said, further alleging she asked him how often the tactic worked and she alleges he answered it worked 50 per cent of the time. She also said on several occasions afterwards, the same host would suggest they sleep together and would laugh about it.
In 2013, Thomson accused then Toronto Mayor Rob Ford of grabbing her inappropriately at a public event. She said she didn't go to the police about the alleged incident because she had no proof.
Sudbury.com has reached out to Laurentian University regarding whether the school will respond to the accusation against Paikin, but our calls have not been returned.
