Lawyers for current and former RCMP women officers were in court on Monday. We see (from the front) a vee-shaped formation of male and female RCMP officers marching toward us. They are dressed in the formal scarlet tunics, black pants and brown, wide-brimmed hats.

Lawyers for current and former RCMP women officers were in court on Monday.
Photo Credit: cbc.ca/RCMP Heritage Centre

RCMP discrimination charges move to a new court

A five-day hearing on alleged gender discrimination, bullying and harassment in Canada’s national police force opened Monday British Columbia.

Lawyers want the B.C. Supreme Court to certify a class-action law suit against the Royal Canadian Mounted Police.

The suit has been filed by more than 350 current and former female members of the force and has taken about three years to make its way through the legal system.

The lawyer for the women, David Klein, says that over the three years his law firm has canvassed more than 100 women with a detailed questionnaire

“They share an unfortunate common bond,” he said. “They were subjected to systemic harassment, bullying and discrimination over a long period of time. The bond they share is the consequence of that treatment.”

A federal Public Safety Department spokesperson would not comment directly on the case, but said all RCMP members should feel safe and respected amongst their colleagues.

Categories: Economy, Health, Politics, Society
Tags:

Do you want to report an error or a typo? Click here!

For reasons beyond our control, and for an undetermined period of time, our comment section is now closed. However, our social networks remain open to your contributions.