Excerpt from the OH&S Canada magazine (December 2016)
Canada’s national police force has reached a settlement in two class-action lawsuits regarding accusations of sexual harassment and gender-based discrimination among its members by offering a compensation package totalling a $1oo million for several hundred women who have served with the force over the past 42 years.
In a news conference held in Ottawa on October 06, 2016, RCMP Commissioner Bob Paulson offered a lengthy apology to the women of the force. “You came to the RCMP wanting to personally contribute to your community, and we failed you. We hurt you. For that, I am truly sorry,” said Paulson, who also extended his apologies to Canadians. “The harassment problem in the RCMP was enabled by an organizational culture that developed over time in isolation from the values of the communities we serve. Effective accountability and enlightened leadership have been instrumental in bringing us back alongside with modernity.”
Janet Merlo and Linda Gillis Davidson, the plaintiffs of the lawsuits, attended the conference. Merlo filed her suit in March 2012 and Davidson in March of last year.
The RCMP says it will implement new initiatives to eliminate gender discrimination and sexual harassment by the end of 2017. The RCMP also plans to increase the number of women in regular member, executive and officer positions to 30 per cent over the next nine years.
My opinion
As of September 16, 2024, approximately one-fifth of the RCMP ‘s police officers are women, with more and more women in leadership roles.
Bev Busson was the 21st Commissioner of the RCMP from December 2006 to June 2007, and the first woman to hold the position. Among her many accomplishments, Busson was named Commander of the Order of Merit of Police Forces by the Governor General, recognized as a Member of the Order of Canada as well as a Member of the Order of British Columbia.
It was always apparent that the RCMP had a hard time getting used to have women among their ranks. I am glad that the numbers of women have increased and will bring normalcy to the highest body of policing we have in Canada.
The RCMP MUST be a leader here, not a follower!
HRS Group Inc. has a great team that can help you with all your health and safety needs including ‘Violence’ and ‘Harassment’.
Contact Deborah toll free at 1-877-907-7744 or locally at 705-749-1259.
Ensure your workplace is a safe place.
Remember – In Canada, “ALL Accidents are Preventable”
‘Work’ and ‘Play’ safe.
Daniel L. Beal
CHSEP – Advanced Level
CEO & Senior Trainer
HRS Group Inc.
I will follow you!