RCMP faces $1.1B lawsuit over bullying claims
Cites ‘culture of bullying and harassment’
A proposed class-action lawsuit seeking a whopping $1.1 billion in damages from the RCMP says the leaders of Canada’s national police force failed to address a culture of workplace bullying and instead allowed a toxic work environment to fester “characterized by abuse of power and fear of reprisal.”
Filed Friday in Federal Court, the proposed classaction is open to all past and present employees, including civilians, volunteers and students, with grievances that weren’t addressed in earlier litigation. In 2016, the federal government announced it had earmarked $100 million to settle two class-action lawsuits by female members who alleged they were discriminated against based on gender or sexual orientation; it resulted in over 3,100 claims.
The current proposed class-action, which has yet to be certified, could be unprecedented in its scope — encompassing tens of thousands of men and women who serve or previously served on the force.
“We heard stories over and over of a culture of bullying and harassment and members saying, ‘What about me?’” said Toronto lawyer Megan McPhee, who is representing the plaintiffs.
A spokesman for Public Safety Minister Ralph Goodale said Monday in a statement that harassment “cannot be a part of the modern workplace Canadians expect in the RCMP.”
When Commissioner Brenda Lucki, the first woman to lead the RCMP in a permanent capacity, was appointed earlier this year, her mandate letter made clear that she was “expected to lead the force through a period of transformation that will modernize and reform its culture and its management practices,” the statement said.
A spokeswoman for the RCMP said in a statement that the force has not had a chance to thoroughly review the statement of claim. That said, “the receipt of another claim of this sort … reminds us of the work still to be done.”
“The RCMP continues to improve and expand on measures it has put in place to address conflict and inappropriate behaviour in the workplace. Any report of misbehaviour is concerning to the RCMP and we take such allegations seriously. We continue to encourage anyone who feels they are the victim of inappropriate behaviour to report it.”
But according to the lawsuit, reporting such behaviour is often what leads to further problems.
The two lead plaintiffs in the action are Geoffrey Greenwood, 52, a staff sergeant serving in the Red Deer, Alta., detachment and Todd Gray, 53, a sergeant in the Airdrie, Alta., detachment.
Greenwood alleges, among other things, that while serving at the Yellowknife headquarters, he was the subject of multiple “fabricated” code of conduct allegations by his superiors because of his refusal to hide his knowledge of possible corruption by other members.
During this time, he says he was stripped of his command of the drug section, confined to demeaning administrative tasks and subjected to ridicule.
Greenwood alleges that the harassment he experienced limited his potential to advance his career and that the sustained attacks on his credibility left him with psychological injuries.
Gray, meanwhile, alleges that while performing at equestrian events as part of the RCMP Musical Ride he was forced to ride in a bunk in the same trailer as the horses on a number of occasions, which was “unsafe, dangerous and illegal.” He also claims that he was made to ride despite having a back injury. Gray also alleges that he suffered retaliation and was ostracized and isolated when he accused a detachment commander in Nunavut of mistreating First Nations people.
As a result of these and other incidents, Gray says he was diagnosed with depression and was denied promotional opportunities.
None of the allegations has been tested in court.
The plaintiffs use previous comments from the RCMP’s own leadership to bolster their claims. For instance, Bob Paulson, the former commissioner, told a parliamentary committee in early 2016 that while sexual harassment had no place in the organization, “it’s the culture of bullying, intimidation, and general harassment that I think needs everybody’s focus and attention.”
Brian Sauve, co-chair of the National Police Federation, which is seeking to become the bargaining agent for RCMP members, said Monday there is “nothing meaningful” within the force that members can turn to now to address their grievances in a fair and timely manner. That’s why members have had to turn to the media, file rights complaints or pursue lawsuits.