RCMP bill clears Commons hurdle
NDP votes against legislation
— A Conservative bill aimed at improving the RCMP’s internal disciplinary and grievance processes following complaints of harassment and gender disparities in the workforce appears on track to become law after clearing the House of Commons on Wednesday.
The Conservatives used their majority to pass Bill C-42, the Enhancing Royal Canadian Mounted Police Accountability Act, along with support from the Liberals. The NDP voted against the proposed law. The bill will now be sent to the Senate, where Conservatives also have a majority.
“This common-sense piece of legislation strengthens the review and complaints body for the RCMP, establishes a process for handling serious criminal issues involving RCMP officers and streamlines the management of RCMP human resources,” Public Safety Minister Vic Toews said in a statement after the vote. “Our government made it clear that we would work closely with (RCMP Commissioner Bob Paulson) to take action to restore pride in Canada’s national police force. This bill gives the commissioner the tools he needs to do just that.”
The bill proposes to streamline the national police force’s disciplinary system and bureaucratic grievance process. The government has said complaints can sometimes take as long as five years before they’re resolved, while Paulson has complained disciplinary provisions are inadequate as the punishment dished out to “rotten apples” just “does not cut it.”
Bill C-42 would give the RCMP commissioner new powers to dismiss members for non-disciplinary reasons like absenteeism and poor performance. It would also give senior managers a host of sanctions that could be used on short notice, like suspending pay. Disciplinary boards would still be responsible for adjudicating serious cases but the new legislation would allow boards to deal with matters without a formal hearing.
The bill would also replace the existing Commission for Public Complaints Against the RCMP with a new Civilian Review and Complaints Commission that would be able to compel witnesses to give evidence and ensure the force complies with various legislation and regulations.
Introduced in June, it came as RCMP was slapped with a class-action lawsuit over alleged discrimination and harassment of female members. The Mounties also came under fire after Alberta Sgt. Donald Ray was demoted a rank, formally reprimanded and docked 10 days pay after what a panel called a “disturbing pattern” of having sex and drinking on the job.
Since then, a gender-based audit of the RCMP concluded women account for just one-fifth of the workforce, are more likely to drop out of basic training and are generally jaded about the promotional process. The RCMP responded with a 37-point plan to address concerns related to the recruitment and retention of female officers.
NDP public safety critic Randall Garrison has said it does little to address workplace harassment and argues the new civilian review commission isn’t exactly “independent” since it will still report to the public safety minister.