Mountie says she’s being terminated for speaking out
An RCMP constable in British Columbia who is on leave for post-traumatic stress says she was shocked to get a letter this month informing her the force was moving to dismiss her.
The letter states that the force was taking the action because it couldn’t find suitable accommodations for her anywhere within the organization. But Const. Karen Katz says she thinks the reason for the “notice of intention to discharge” is because of two lawsuits she filed last year alleging systemic harassment.
“I’m being retaliated against because of my lawsuits and because I’m a public whistleblower,” she said in an interview Tuesday.
RCMP spokeswoman Sgt. Julie Gagnon said Tuesday the force “cannot, in good conscience, continue to pay a full salary indefinitely to any employee — regardless of whether they are involved in a lawsuit against the RCMP — whose health prevents them from performing duties within the RCMP.”
Before the force considers an administrative discharge, it will ensure that it has considered all reasonable options to keep the member employed, Gagnon said. Shifting the member into a civilian position might also be explored.
In a memo to the rank-and-file in February, RCMP Commissioner Bob Paulson said the force had to be a good steward of public funds and insisted that the force was not targeting members because they had filed harassment complaints.
Katz has been on leave since early 2009 — first for a shoulder injury and then for post-traumatic stress stemming from being pressured to return to work, she says.
“The RCMP can’t bully, intimidate, and force the (return-to-work) process to begin. It doesn’t work that way,” she said.