NEWS RELEASE
The Standing Senate Committee on National Security and Defence
Senate committee urges stronger actions to address
harassment in the RCMP
Ottawa, June 18, 2013 - In November 2012, the Senate authorized the Standing Committee on National Security and Defence to examine harassment in the RCMP and report back on its findings. Since then, the committee heard testimony from numerous witnesses, all of whom provided valuable insight and advice.
Titled Conduct Becoming: Why The Royal Canadian Mounted Police Must Transform its Culture , the committee’s report offers 15 recommendations on how the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) can build a more respectful workplace and address ongoing issues of harassment and discipline.
Key recommendations include:
- ensuring meaningful cultural transformation and increased accountability;
- strengthening and clarifying the RCMP Code of Conduct;
- increasing independent oversight of harassment programs and policies through the Civilian Review and Complaints Commission;
- implementing a position of RCMP Ombudsman.
“The RCMP must take stronger actions to address issues of harassment and discipline, and work harder to address victims’ concerns,” said Senator Daniel Lang, chair of the Committee. "If fully implemented, these recommendations will go a long way towards achieving a more respectful workplace, and enhancing the public’s confidence in the RCMP.”
“It is the actions of leaders – not policy manuals – that communicate the organization’s ethics and ethos most clearly,” added Senator Roméo A. Dallaire, the deputy chair. “Through their words and deeds, senior leaders in the RCMP must demonstrate their commitment to a zero-tolerance policy when it comes to managing harassment. The Force must also stipulate meaningful and consistent consequences for such unacceptable behaviours.”
The recommendations proposed in the report are designed to ensure that all RCMP members and employees can be confident that the Force will strive to protect them from harassment and discrimination. Members and employees must also be confident that they can speak out about harassment when they see or experience it, and they will not be subject to punishment, recrimination and retaliation.
“The committee intends to closely follow progress made by the RCMP, including on its handling of harassment, and looks forward to the Government’s response to its recommendations,” added Lang.
To read the report and recommendations in full or to learn more about the Standing Senate Committee on National Security and Defence, go to http://senate-senat.ca/secd-e.asp .
The Senate of Canada is on Twitter at @SenateCA . Follow the Committee using the hashtag # SECD .
For more information, please contact:
Media Relations
Brigitte Lemay
613-240-5687
brigitte.lemay@sen.parl.gc.ca
Committee Clerk:
Josée Thérien
613-998-0424
josée.thérien@sen.parl.gc.ca