The Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) on Thursday offered to settle two class-action lawsuits filed on behalf of women in its ranks who alleged gender discrimination, bullying and harassment over four decades.
The settlement, which is subject to court approval, could cost as much as C$100 million (US$76 million).
About 20,000 current and former police officers and civilian staff qualify for the compensation, but fewer than 1,000 are expected to seek payments.
RCMP Commissioner Bob Paulson issued a formal apology to the women for the harassment they endured while in the RCMP.
“We failed you. We hurt you. For that I’m truly sorry,” Paulson said, speaking in the presence of plaintiffs, Canadian Minister of Public Safety and Emergency Preparedness Ralph Goodale and others.
He vowed new initiatives to stamp out gender discrimination and sexual abuse in the RCMP.
“Instead of succeeding and thriving in a supportive and inclusive workplace, many women have suffered careers scarred by gender and sexual discrimination, bullying and harassment,” he said.
He said that some policewomen left the RCMP “heartbroken, disillusioned and angry,” while others were denied promotions after filing formal complaints.
In statements published by local media, victims have described examples of superiors asking for sexual favors and fellow officers making crude jokes.
Goodale said the image of the Canadian police force had been tarnished by such “deeply disturbing” behavior, but expressed hope the apology would begin to restore faith in the RCMP.
SEEKING CHANGE: A hospital worker said she did not vote in previous elections, but ‘now I can see that maybe my vote can change the system and the country’ Voting closed yesterday across the Solomon Islands in the south Pacific nation’s first general election since the government switched diplomatic allegiance from Taiwan to Beijing and struck a secret security pact that has raised fears of the Chinese navy gaining a foothold in the region. The Solomon Islands’ closer relationship with China and a troubled domestic economy weighed on voters’ minds as they cast their ballots. As many as 420,000 registered voters had their say across 50 national seats. For the first time, the national vote also coincided with elections for eight of the 10 local governments. Esther Maeluma cast her vote in the
Nearly half of China’s major cities are suffering “moderate to severe” levels of subsidence, putting millions of people at risk of flooding, especially as sea levels rise, according to a study of nationwide satellite data released yesterday. The authors of the paper, published by the journal Science, found that 45 percent of China’s urban land was sinking faster than 3mm per year, with 16 percent at more than 10mm per year, driven not only by declining water tables, but also the sheer weight of the built environment. With China’s urban population already in excess of 900 million people, “even a small portion
UNSETTLING IMAGES: The scene took place in front of TV crews covering the Trump trial, with a CNN anchor calling it an ‘emotional and unbelievably disturbing moment’ A man who doused himself in an accelerant and set himself on fire outside the courthouse where former US president Donald Trump is on trial has died, police said yesterday. The New York City Police Department (NYPD) said the man was declared dead by staff at an area hospital. The man was in Collect Pond Park at about 1:30pm on Friday when he took out pamphlets espousing conspiracy theories, tossed them around, then doused himself in an accelerant and set himself on fire, officials and witnesses said. A large number of police officers were nearby when it happened. Some officers and bystanders rushed
HYPOCRISY? The Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs yesterday asked whether Biden was talking about China or the US when he used the word ‘xenophobic’ US President Joe Biden on Wednesday called for a hike in steel tariffs on China, accusing Beijing of cheating as he spoke at a campaign event in Pennsylvania. Biden accused China of xenophobia, too, in a speech to union members in Pittsburgh. “They’re not competing, they’re cheating. They’re cheating and we’ve seen the damage here in America,” Biden said. Chinese steel companies “don’t need to worry about making a profit because the Chinese government is subsidizing them so heavily,” he said. Biden said he had called for the US Trade Representative to triple the tariff rates for Chinese steel and aluminum if Beijing was