Jurist Former Canadian Supreme Court Justice publishes report on RCMP’s toxic culture

[Dadparvar]

Former Canadian Supreme Court Justice Michel Bastarache released a report on Thursday, detailing the toxic, misogynistic and homophobic culture of the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP).

After conducting interviews with members of the RCMP, Bastarache noted that the RCMP environment was heavily sexualized. Many women were victims of degrading expressions, discriminatory comments and unwanted sexual touching. Similarly, women who identified as LGBTQ2S+ were ostracized and outed to other members without consent. As a result of such conduct, many women were diagnosed with physiological injuries such as Major Depressive Disorder, Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder, and Generalized Anxiety Disorder.

Bastarache noted that a number of factors contributed to the toxicity of the RCMP including training techniques, systemic barriers, maternity and parental leave and employment flexibility, the grievances and discipline process, leadership, and promotions. In the report, Bastarache offers suggested changes to these factors that he believes will help change the culture of the RCMP for the better. For example, an independent study should be conducted to identify all the systemic barriers preventing women from succeeding in the RCMP and specify how those barriers could be removed. Similarly, “rigorous blind process” should be used for promotions, excluding information about the candidates gender or race.

Bastarache further stated:

I have concluded, based on everything I was told over the past 3 years, that the culture of the RCMP toxic and tolerates misogyny and homophobia at all ranks and in all provinces and territories. This culture does not reflect the stated values of the RCMP, and it is found throughout the organization. RCMP members and officers are forced to accept that they must function in the context of this culture to succeed. RCMP employees appear to blame the “bad apples” without recognizing the systemic and internal origins of this conduct.

Bastarache indicated that efforts to fix the negative culture of the RCMP “independent external pressure” must be applied. Attempts to fix the culture from within the RCMP has failed multiple times before and has resulted in “the cultural biases and prejudices that existed within the organization “ today. He further stated that, “it is my belie the time has come for the Government of Canada to ask some hard questions about the structure and governance of federal policing.”

The post Former Canadian Supreme Court Justice publishes report on RCMP’s toxic culture appeared first on JURIST - News - Legal News & Commentary.

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